BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1851 By: Morales, Eddie Delivery of Government Efficiency Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE While municipal and county law enforcement agencies are authorized under state law to purchase surplus DPS vehicles at a discounted rate, school district police departments are ineligible to do so. The bill author has informed the committee that, on August 19, 2024, the Socorro ISD Police Department contacted his office regarding difficulties in acquiring retired DPS vehicles. Following discussions with the Texas Facilities Commission, the bill author's office secured a one-time exception allowing Socorro ISD, on the ISD's submission of documentation from the superintendent explaining how the vehicles would benefit students and the community, to receive surplus DPS vehicles through a donation process. The bill author has further informed the committee that this highlights a larger issue in state law that prevents school district police departments, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas, from accessing the same affordable law enforcement resources as municipal and county law enforcement agencies. H.B. 1851 seeks to address this issue by allowing school districts in those areas to acquire surplus DPS motor vehicles and law enforcement equipment. CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS H.B. 1851 amends the Government Code to authorize the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) to transfer surplus motor vehicles and other law enforcement equipment of the Department of Public Safety to a public school district located in an economically disadvantaged area of Texas at a price or for other consideration agreed to by TFC and the district if TFC determines that the state's efforts to secure Texas' international border and combat transnational crime will sufficiently benefit from the donation. The bill prohibits a district that receives such surplus property from selling the property before the second anniversary of the receipt date. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 1851
By: Morales, Eddie
Delivery of Government Efficiency
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 1851
By: Morales, Eddie
Delivery of Government Efficiency
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE While municipal and county law enforcement agencies are authorized under state law to purchase surplus DPS vehicles at a discounted rate, school district police departments are ineligible to do so. The bill author has informed the committee that, on August 19, 2024, the Socorro ISD Police Department contacted his office regarding difficulties in acquiring retired DPS vehicles. Following discussions with the Texas Facilities Commission, the bill author's office secured a one-time exception allowing Socorro ISD, on the ISD's submission of documentation from the superintendent explaining how the vehicles would benefit students and the community, to receive surplus DPS vehicles through a donation process. The bill author has further informed the committee that this highlights a larger issue in state law that prevents school district police departments, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas, from accessing the same affordable law enforcement resources as municipal and county law enforcement agencies. H.B. 1851 seeks to address this issue by allowing school districts in those areas to acquire surplus DPS motor vehicles and law enforcement equipment.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS H.B. 1851 amends the Government Code to authorize the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) to transfer surplus motor vehicles and other law enforcement equipment of the Department of Public Safety to a public school district located in an economically disadvantaged area of Texas at a price or for other consideration agreed to by TFC and the district if TFC determines that the state's efforts to secure Texas' international border and combat transnational crime will sufficiently benefit from the donation. The bill prohibits a district that receives such surplus property from selling the property before the second anniversary of the receipt date.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2025.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
While municipal and county law enforcement agencies are authorized under state law to purchase surplus DPS vehicles at a discounted rate, school district police departments are ineligible to do so. The bill author has informed the committee that, on August 19, 2024, the Socorro ISD Police Department contacted his office regarding difficulties in acquiring retired DPS vehicles. Following discussions with the Texas Facilities Commission, the bill author's office secured a one-time exception allowing Socorro ISD, on the ISD's submission of documentation from the superintendent explaining how the vehicles would benefit students and the community, to receive surplus DPS vehicles through a donation process. The bill author has further informed the committee that this highlights a larger issue in state law that prevents school district police departments, particularly in economically disadvantaged areas, from accessing the same affordable law enforcement resources as municipal and county law enforcement agencies. H.B. 1851 seeks to address this issue by allowing school districts in those areas to acquire surplus DPS motor vehicles and law enforcement equipment.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 1851 amends the Government Code to authorize the Texas Facilities Commission (TFC) to transfer surplus motor vehicles and other law enforcement equipment of the Department of Public Safety to a public school district located in an economically disadvantaged area of Texas at a price or for other consideration agreed to by TFC and the district if TFC determines that the state's efforts to secure Texas' international border and combat transnational crime will sufficiently benefit from the donation. The bill prohibits a district that receives such surplus property from selling the property before the second anniversary of the receipt date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2025.