Committee advances bill to protect DPS fee funds from biennial sweep (House Bill 2,694)
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Summary
A sponsor and Missouri State Highway Patrol staff told the Committee that House Bill 2,694 would keep certain Department of Public Safety fee revenues (for example, the Highway Patrol Academy Fund) in their designated funds instead of sweeping leftover balances into general revenue; members asked about long-term accumulation and possible future transfer authority.
The House Committee on Corrections and Public Institutions advanced House Bill 2,694 after a sponsor and a Department of Public Safety staffer explained the measure’s mechanics and intent.
Sponsor Mike Steinmeier (District 20) and a Missouri State Highway Patrol staff member described funds that are generated by fees—such as fees charged to law-enforcement agencies that send officers to the patrol academy—and said those fees are intended to pay for operational needs of the academy. Steinmeier said the bill would prevent those fund balances from being swept into general revenue at the end of a biennium and instead keep earned fees available for the intended purpose.
Members asked whether some funds could grow substantially over time and whether the bill should include a mechanism to allow future transfer of excess balances back to general revenue. Representative Hovachue raised the example of other self-funded departments that have large reserves and asked whether a five- or ten-year review should be available to pull excess funds back to general revenue; the sponsor said the pattern described did not appear likely for these particular funds and suggested future legislation could address that scenario if needed.
The committee voted to advance House Bill 2,694 by roll call, 12 ayes and 1 no. The sponsor’s explanation and the staff description of the Highway Patrol Academy Fund were the primary evidence supporting the bill in committee.
