Bill Summary for Bill Number Dept. of Public Safety FY 2011-12 Capital Requests

Date: 12/02/2010

Final
Dept. of Public Safety FY 2011-12 Capital Requests

COMMITTEE ON CAPITAL DEVELOPMENT

Votes: View-->	Action Taken:
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09:35 AM -- Department of Public Safety FY 2011-12 Capital Requests

Chief James Wolfinbarger, and Captain Matt Secor, Aircraft Division, and Mr. Bobby Juchem, all of the Colorado State Patrol within the Department of Public Safety, presented the department's FY 2011-12 capital construction request and five-year projection of cash need. Committee members received copies of the Colorado State Patrol's Strategic Plan for 2011-2015 (a copy of the plan is on file with Legislative Council Staff). Chief Wolfinbarger provided background on the need to patrol the roadways through the air, and discussed the department's Turbo 182 Aircraft capital construction request for FY 2011-12. Captain Secor discussed the work performed by the Aircraft Division, and detailed the need to replace the division's existing aircraft fleet. Captain Secor responded to questions regarding the reasons that the communications systems have not been previously replaced within the existing aircraft fleet. Chief Wolfinbarger provided further input on the connection between communications upgrades and replacing the aircraft fleet, and detailed other features that do not exist in the division's aircraft fleet but are standard in more modern aircraft.

09:47 AM

Captain Secor responded to questions regarding the utilization rate of the Aircraft Division's fleet each year, and the ability of the division to replace existing aircraft with other used aircraft. Discussion ensued regarding alternatives to purchasing new aircraft. Discussion followed regarding the impact of the use of aircraft for patrolling purposes on public safety, and the importance of the department's aircraft program.

10:01 AM

Discussion ensued regarding the diversity of missions that are performed by the department's aircraft program. Chief Wolfinbarger responded to questions regarding potential uses of Highway Users Tax Fund "off-the-top" moneys requested for the Turbo 182 Aircraft project if the project is not funded, and the appropriateness of using these moneys to purchase an aircraft, which will be used for missions not associated with highway supervision.