BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 2332

By: Parker

Homeland Security, Public Safety & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The bill sponsor has informed the committee that the Department of Public Safety (DPS) regularly employs aircraft to carry out critical law enforcement and public safety missions across Texas and that, although DPS manages its own fleet to some extent, current law sets out requirements regarding the location of aircraft, the primary responsibility for aircraft upkeep and scheduling, and pilot requirements that are applicable to state-owned aircraft generally, which can lead to inefficiencies and excess cost in the deployment of DPS aircraft to regions where they are most needed. S.B. 2332 seeks to ensure uniform maintenance and oversight of the DPS fleet, reduce operational costs, and bolster the state's rapid-response capabilities by explicitly designating DPS as the primary authority to maintain and schedule its aircraft, requiring DPS to base its aircraft at locations DPS considers necessary, and requiring pilots of a DPS aircraft be a DPS employee.

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

S.B. 2332 amends the Government Code to establish that the Department of Public Safety (DPS) is primarily responsible for maintaining and scheduling aircraft DPS owns and operates. The bill requires DPS to base DPS aircraft at locations throughout Texas as DPS considers necessary and requires a pilot of an aircraft DPS owns and operates to be a DPS employee.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2025.