3.11.26 - House Budget Hearing Pennsylvania State Police

Pennsylvania House Budget Hearing

Pennsylvania State Police – Detailed Overview / Notes

I. Opening and Budget Overview

A. Opening condolences and tone of the hearing

• The hearing opened with condolences from committee leadership to the family of a fallen trooper, with members emphasizing the risks troopers take every day and expressing support for the PSP.
• The tone at the outset was notably solemn and supportive, with repeated acknowledgment that troopers put themselves in danger each time they report for duty.

B. Governor’s proposed PSP budget

• Chairman Struzzi summarized the Governor’s proposed PSP spending plan:
  • total proposed spending of about $1.33 billion for the upcoming fiscal year,
  • an increase of roughly $117 million, or about 9.4%, over the prior fiscal year,
  • plus a proposed $250 million transfer from the Motor License Fund in addition to General Fund support.

C. Procedures

• Witnesses were sworn in.
• The committee explained the standard hearing format:
  • five minutes per member for questioning,
  • yellow light at 30 seconds remaining,
  • red light when time expires.

D. PSP team introduced

• PSP introduced the command staff present for the hearing, including:
  • Lt. Col. Chris King, Deputy of Administration and Professional Responsibility,
  • Major Matthew Niki, Deputy of Operations,
  • Lt. Col. Joanne Reed, Deputy of Staff,
  • Special Assistant Brooke Mead.

II. Governor’s Residence Attack and Executive Protection

A. Post-attack questions

• Representative Sanchez opened questioning by referencing the April 13, 2025 firebombing of the Governor’s Residence and asking whether threats against political figures and law enforcement have increased.
• PSP responded that such threats have increased, both in Pennsylvania and nationally, against the Governor, other elected officials, and law enforcement more broadly.

B. Habitability of the residence

• PSP testified that the Governor’s Residence was not habitable after the attack, due not only to direct fire damage but also widespread smoke infiltration throughout the building.

C. Security at the Governor’s personal residence

• PSP confirmed it was tasked with securing the Governor’s personal residence after the official residence became uninhabitable.
• PSP testified that post-attack security upgrades at the personal residence cost about $1.1 million.

D. Rationale for upgrades

• PSP explained it had two options:
  • significantly upgrade the residence perimeter and technology,
  • or maintain a large 24/7 trooper presence at much higher personnel cost.
• PSP said it chose the technology/perimeter-upgrade route because a constant large trooper presence would be far more expensive and would strain personnel resources.

E. Procurement and legality

• PSP testified that procurement for the security upgrades was handled through the normal Commonwealth process and that it relied on guidance from:
  • Department of General Services (DGS) for procurement,
  • Office of General Counsel (OGC) for legal issues.
• PSP stated it had no reason to believe the procurement path was improper.

F. Unused fencing purchase

• Legislators asked about a fencing-related purchase that ultimately was not used at the personal residence.
• PSP explained that zoning and variance issues would have delayed installation, so landscaping was used instead to create a visual barrier.
• PSP noted that the fencing materials were not wasted; they were incorporated into the design at the new academy / training village.

III. Patrol Vehicle Procurement, Costs, and Ballistic Protection

A. Transportation line item increase

• Representative Nelson asked about the increase in the transportation / vehicle line item, which rose by about $2.6 million to approximately $15 million.

B. Reason for the increase

• PSP testified that for more than a decade it had been working with roughly $13 million annually for patrol vehicles.
• During the first two years of the current administration, PSP received significantly higher vehicle support because a large share of the fleet was approaching or exceeding 200,000 miles, creating safety and reliability issues.
• PSP said the new proposed level—about $15.6 million—is intended to prevent the fleet from slipping backward again into high-mileage conditions.

C. Average patrol car cost

• PSP testified that the average cost of a fully equipped patrol vehicle is now about $98,500.

D. Ballistic vehicle upgrades

• Members asked whether PSP is considering ballistic protection for patrol cars.
• PSP said it has experimented with ballistic options in some specialty fleet vehicles and may consider broader patrol implementation in a future budget.
• Estimated costs discussed:
  • about $4,000 for ballistic door protection,
  • about $12,000 to $15,000 for fuller ballistic upgrades.

E. Fleet size challenge

• PSP emphasized that it has nearly 1,600 patrol vehicles in the patrol fleet alone, so multiplying ballistic protection across the fleet would create very large costs and installation demands.

IV. Recruitment, Diversity, and the Cadet Pipeline

A. Diversity concerns raised

• Representative Kincaid pressed PSP on minority recruitment and graduation outcomes, citing prior-year data:
  • about 4,200 minority applicants,
  • 3,600 eligible to test,
  • 1,777 completed testing and ranked on the eligibility list,
  • 81 appointed to a cadet class,
  • 36 graduated.

B. Exit interviews and retention review

• PSP testified that it does document and review exit information for cadets who do not complete the academy.
• Reasons include:
  • injuries,
  • voluntary departure,
  • personal decisions that the profession is not the right fit.
• PSP said these cases are reviewed by leadership to identify whether any systemic issue is causing departures, and that it has not found such a systemic problem to date.

C. Recruitment environment

• PSP said it is working in a difficult recruiting climate, particularly because the dangers of the profession are highly visible.
• Even so, PSP testified that current recruiting efforts are showing improvement and that minority recruitment numbers are trending in a better direction.

D. Outreach efforts

• The hearing summary and testimony both highlighted ongoing recruitment outreach through programs such as:
  • Camp Cadet,
  • other youth-facing programs,
  • and targeted efforts intended to build interest in policing earlier in the pipeline.

V. Terrorism, Intelligence, and Interagency Coordination

A. Questions on terrorism and intelligence

• A legislator asked about terrorism risks following recent events and whether PSP would provide case-by-case legislative briefings when appropriate.
• PSP said it would consider such updates where possible, but noted that in major terrorism matters it is often not the lead agency and would need to coordinate with federal partners before sharing investigative details.

B. Federal partnerships

• PSP testified to close coordination with:
  • the FBI,
  • Homeland Security Investigations,
  • the Joint Terrorism Task Force,
  • and analysts assigned to the Pennsylvania Criminal Intelligence Center / Fusion Center.

C. Role of the Fusion Center

• PSP described a robust intelligence structure involving:
  • field intelligence collection,
  • centralized intelligence analysis,
  • synthesis of domestic and international threat information into a statewide threat picture.

D. National Guard coordination

• PSP also confirmed regular communication with the National Guard and the Adjutant General, with briefings as needed.

VI. Immigration Enforcement Policy and AR 7-14

A. AR 7-14 questions

• Members asked about AR 7-14, the PSP policy governing contact with ICE and civil immigration enforcement.

B. PSP’s position

• PSP testified that it is not a federal immigration enforcement agency and does not detain or question people solely based on immigration status.
• If a trooper conducts a normal law enforcement encounter, such as a traffic stop, PSP said there is generally no reason to ask about immigration status unless it becomes directly relevant to a criminal investigation.

C. Compliance and discipline

• PSP said violations of AR 7-14 would be handled like any other policy violation:
  • internal investigation,
  • potential discipline if warranted.

D. Why PSP supports keeping the policy

• PSP defended the policy on two grounds:
  • it does not believe it has authority to perform routine ICE administrative work,
  • and it believes public safety depends on residents feeling safe reporting crimes and approaching law enforcement without fear.

E. Support during federal activity

• PSP clarified that it would not assist with ordinary civil immigration enforcement, but if violence occurred during a federal action, troopers would intervene to stop the violence like in any other public safety situation.

VII. Complement Cap and Staffing Flexibility

A. Statutory cap explained

• Several members asked about the PSP complement cap, including references to Act 34 of 2023, which increased the cap by 100 troopers.
• PSP explained that there is a statutory cap on the number of enlisted members it can employ at one time. Because of that cap, PSP cannot simply anticipate future retirements and hire ahead of them.

B. Consequence of the cap

• PSP testified that under the current system:
  • it must wait for retirements to occur,
  • then hire cadets to fill those spots,
  • which means the agency is “constantly behind” in trying to maintain staffing.

C. Current pressure point

• PSP said that with current cadets already in the academy, it can likely hire only about 75 additional cadets for the planned June class unless more retirements occur first.
• Without more flexibility, many of the 380 cadets proposed in the budget could not be brought in until after the first of the year.

D. Positions outside the cap

• PSP testified that some assignments are outside the statutory cap, including troopers assigned to:
  • the Pennsylvania Turnpike,
  • gaming enforcement,
  • the Delaware River Bridge Authority,
  • and liquor control enforcement.
• All other troopers count against the cap.

E. Staffing needs estimate

• PSP said internal analysis shows that over the years additional mandated functions have drawn about 400 enlisted members away from what otherwise would have been patrol duties.
• PSP said it would like to restore roughly 300 to 400 patrol troopers to strengthen patrol coverage.

VIII. Cadet Classes, Vacancies, and Graduation Expectations

A. Cadet class funding

• Members asked about the proposed GGO increase that includes $16.231 million for four new cadet classes intended to train 380 new cadets.

B. Graduation outlook

• PSP said it hopes to bring in roughly 380 cadets in the upcoming cycle, though actual graduation numbers will depend on injuries, voluntary withdrawals, and other attrition.
• For the current fiscal year, PSP said it had appointed 270 cadets so far and expected to graduate roughly 180 with possibly one more class still to come.

C. Current vacancies

• PSP testified it currently has just over 200 trooper vacancies, with 123 cadets already in training.

IX. Missing Children, MEPA / Amber Alerts, and Public Alert Systems

A. Alert system use

• Representative Curry asked whether Pennsylvania’s alert systems are still being used effectively, noting that social media often appears to be the public’s main tool for sharing information about missing children.
• PSP testified that the MEPA system is being used “quite extensively.”

B. Amber vs. MEPA

• PSP explained:
  • Amber Alerts are reserved for abducted children under 18,
  • MEPA can be used more broadly for endangered persons and therefore has wider application.

C. Frequency of MEPA usage

• PSP testified that the MEPA system had been activated 129 times in the past year statewide.

D. Integration with PennDOT

• PSP said the MEPA system ties multiple alerting mechanisms together, including PennDOT highway signboards, so that vehicle descriptions and related notices can be disseminated rapidly.

E. Training for local agencies

• PSP said it has incorporated MEPA training into municipal police education and training so local agencies understand when and how to request activation.

X. Mental Health Crisis Response Training

A. Legislator concern

• Members asked how PSP is preparing troopers to respond to individuals in behavioral or mental health crisis, especially given increased public use of 988 and broader statewide mental health needs.

B. PSP response

• PSP said this training begins at the academy, where cadets receive instruction from subject matter experts, including through collaboration with Penn State Health.

C. Ongoing training

• PSP said training continues through:
  • required annual in-service training,
  • elective “calendar courses,”
  • and continual scenario-based updates by use-of-force and training staff.

D. Goal

• PSP emphasized that the goal is not static compliance but constant improvement in how troopers handle evolving crisis situations.

XI. Cannabis Legalization and Public Safety Costs

A. Funding assumptions questioned

• Members questioned whether the Governor’s proposed $2.5 million initial funding—and about $1.25 million ongoing thereafter—would be enough for PSP if adult-use cannabis is legalized.

B. PSP’s response

• PSP confirmed it was consulted on the proposal and said much depends on how the legislation is written.

C. Main anticipated cost drivers

• PSP said significant costs would likely include:
  • expungements,
  • impaired-driving enforcement,
  • expanded Drug Recognition Expert (DRE) training.

D. Current DRE base

• PSP testified there are about 286 DREs statewide, counting state and local officers.

E. Uncertainty based on legal design

• PSP said that if cannabis enforcement were structured similarly to liquor enforcement, it would require substantial additional personnel and resources.
• If most regulatory responsibilities were assigned elsewhere, PSP’s direct costs could be smaller.

F. Impaired driving concern

• PSP repeatedly identified marijuana-impaired driving as one of the most obvious and significant public safety challenges, because there is no roadside equivalent to the breath test used for alcohol.

XII. PICS / Firearms Check Funding and Restricted Account Fix

A. Question raised

• Members asked for an update on the Pennsylvania Instant Check System (PICS) and a restricted account that had accumulated about $15 million.

B. PSP explanation

• PSP testified that when the credit card payment account was originally created, a required transfer step was never set up properly, so funds accumulated in the wrong place over time.

C. Current status

• PSP said the funds have now been:
  • identified,
  • reconciled,
  • moved into the proper restricted firearms account,
  • and cannot be used for General Fund purposes.

D. Future safeguard

• PSP said a new payment process is now in place so that money flows directly to Treasury and the restricted account, eliminating the old problem going forward.

XIII. School Safety, Human Trafficking, and Assessments

A. Human trafficking investigations

• The hearing summary noted that PSP described a growing anti-trafficking effort, including specialized investigative work within the Bureau of Criminal Investigation and dozens of investigations in the past year.

B. School safety assessments

• Members asked about Act 44 school safety assessments.
• PSP testified that:
  • 18 full-time troopers are assigned to the risk and vulnerability assessment team,
  • 376 assessments had been completed in 2025,
  • and there is still a substantial backlog.

C. Backlog

• PSP estimated the backlog at roughly 600 requests.

D. Why backlog persists

• PSP said one reason the backlog appears so large is that some schools quickly re-enter the queue after receiving an assessment, sometimes before other schools have been assessed even once.
• PSP said it is working with PCCD to clarify rules so newer or higher-need schools are not crowded out.

E. Planned efficiency improvements

• PSP also said it is working on software and process improvements to increase assessment throughput without necessarily increasing the size of the team.

XIV. Radio Interoperability and Coverage of Local Municipalities

A. Interoperability concern

• Members raised issues about communication problems when PSP assists local departments or crosses county lines.

B. Neighboring states

• PSP testified that it now has interoperability with:
  • FEMA Region III,
  • and recently with New Jersey State Police, with full operation expected within months.

C. Counties brought online

• PSP said it has already connected 35 counties by installing consoles in their 911 centers, allowing direct communication between PSP and local responders without relying solely on dispatch relays.

D. Additional counties in progress

• PSP said another 20 counties are currently being worked on.

E. Burden from shrinking local departments

• PSP testified that the larger burden is not only from departments closing entirely, but also from local agencies reducing the hours they cover, especially nights and weekends.
• That is increasing the number of hours PSP must fill in for part-time municipal departments.

XV. Academy, Facilities, and Training Modernization

A. Academy construction status

• Members asked for an update on the new academy and training campus.
• PSP testified that:
  • part of the new facility is already online,
  • the Bureau of Emergency and Special Operations facility is nearly complete,
  • the main academy building is expected to be ready for occupancy by late October,
  • and full site completion is expected by early 2028.

B. Future buildout

• PSP explained that after moving into the new academy building, the old facility will be torn down and replaced with additional structures, including:
  • an indoor firing range,
  • and an outdoor training village directly connected to the academy.

C. Recruitment value

• PSP said the modern facility should help recruitment because the current academy has an older barracks-style feel, while the new campus will provide more modern training and living conditions.

XVI. Firearms Procurement and Equipment Modernization

A. Sidearm update

• The hearing summary indicates members asked about PSP’s standard sidearm and procurement practices.
• PSP explained it transitioned to the Walther PDP 9mm with a red-dot optic after internal testing and field trials.

B. Procurement method

• PSP indicated that for certain highly specialized equipment—especially firearms—it often relies on:
  • internal testing,
  • field personnel input,
  • and collaboration with the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association,
    rather than a standard open RFP model for every decision.

XVII. Megan’s Law Telephonic Verification

A. Question raised

• A member noted that a telephonic verification system required under prior law had still not become functional.

B. PSP response

• PSP said it would need to follow up with more detail on that specific telephonic system, but noted that:
  • Megan’s Law compliance rates in Pennsylvania are significantly better than the national average,
  • with PSP citing about 3.4% noncompliance compared with a national average exceeding 10%.

XVIII. Overall Themes and Takeaways

A. Core issues at the hearing

The hearing focused most heavily on:

• staffing and the complement cap,
• the cadet pipeline and diversity,
• executive protection and residence security after the firebombing,
• patrol vehicle replacement and possible ballistic upgrades,
• terrorism / intelligence coordination,
• immigration enforcement boundaries under AR 7-14,
• cannabis-related enforcement costs,
• PICS funding and reconciliation,
• school safety and assessment backlogs,
• and academy modernization.

B. Main policy tension

• A central structural issue was whether PSP has enough hiring flexibility to keep up with retirements and rising demands.
• PSP made clear that even with additional cadet classes funded, the statutory cap prevents it from fully using the pipeline as aggressively as it otherwise would.