The bill changes the allocation of the first $25 of the criminal and traffic surcharge from:

•  60 percent to the general fund;
•  39 percent to the peace officer training account in the special revenue fund; and
• one percent to the game and fish fund; to:
  • 58 percent to the general fund;
  • 41 percent to the training account; and
  • one percent to the game and fish fund

The peace officer training account funds operations of the Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board as well as the base budget for peace officer training reimbursement of local law enforcement.  The money in the account is directly appropriated from the special revenue fund to the POST Board.  For a number of reasons, the amount of surcharge revenue flowing into the fund no longer covers the POST Board appropriation, creating a deficiency in the account.  The deficiency is estimated to be approximately $125,000 in fiscal year 2019 and $686,000 in the FY 2020-21 biennium.

This bill increases the percentage of the surcharge flowing to the peace officer training account from 39 percent to 41 percent, and reduces the general fund share from 60 percent to 58 percent. The increase allows the POST Board to receive the full amount appropriated by the 2017 Legislature.  However, the cost of the bill reflects the amount of revenue diverted from the general fund into the peace officer training account, not the amount of money needed to meet the FY19 appropriation.

The bill is effective July1, 2018, and applies to surcharges collected on or after that date.