SB2332

The State Aircraft Pooling Act ordinarily places state aircraft in a pool administered by the Texas Department of Transportation. SB2332 adds an exception referring to the new DPS-specific section, alongside the existing Texas A&M aircraft provision. The new section covers aircraft DPS owns and operates; it does not transfer every state aircraft to DPS or direct a purchase of new aircraft. Prior definitions; Prior applicability rule; Existing aircraft-pool framework; Existing A&M provision; Final law.

DPS has primary maintenance and scheduling responsibility and decides which locations across the state are necessary. The act specifies neither a number of bases nor a requirement for a base in each county. It requires the pilots of DPS-owned and operated aircraft to be DPS employees; it does not expressly require every mechanic to be a DPS employee. Final law, section 2.

Changes during passage: The Senate committee substitute replaced four uses of “department” with “Department of Public Safety,” avoiding confusion with the chapter’s definition of “department” as the transportation agency. It kept the same maintenance, scheduling, basing and employee-pilot provisions. The Senate-passed, House committee and final operative texts match that substitute. The official amendment index lists no amendments. Introduced; Senate substitute; Senate-passed; House committee; Final law; Version index; Amendment index.

Compare the published text versions in the official text index. A change is not attributed to a specific amendment here without a verified record.

DPS gains clearer operational control and responsibility for its aircraft. Its maintenance choices could reduce outsourced work, but savings and staffing depend on implementation, not just passage of the act. The statute does not establish a measured improvement in response times or aviation safety. Final law; Fiscal note.

The April 12 fiscal note estimates a net positive impact of $2,373,946 to general-revenue-related funds for fiscal years 2026–27: $854,000 in 2026 and $1,519,946 in 2027. It assumes $3.2 million in annual savings ($2.7 million in outsourced labor and $0.5 million in parts), offset by costs of $2,346,000 in 2026 and $1,680,054 in 2027. The staffing assumption is 13 additional full-time-equivalent positions: 11 mechanics and two program analysts. These are forecast assumptions, not mandatory staffing levels or verified savings. The note anticipates no significant fiscal impact on the transportation agency or local governments. The bill makes no appropriation. Substitute fiscal note; Introduced fiscal note.