DPS official says state will absorb staff and cover some costs; draft agreement negotiable

Rebecca Perez, field operations manager for the Texas Department of Public Safety, told the Hood County Commissioners Court the interlocal instrument being discussed was a draft prepared by DPS real estate staff and is negotiable.

"This is as it says, a draft," Perez said, explaining the department's real estate specialist prepared a draft while on vacation and that the state routinely reviews such documents with general counsel. Perez said DPS intends to request two county employees as FTEs; those employees would need to clear state background checks and would become state employees only if they accepted the transition.

Perez also said the state would pay for certain required security cameras inside the DPS suite and would handle a modest renovation (removing two walls) without using county funds. She described the draft agreement's utility provisions as DPS paying utilities for its exclusive use and emphasized DPS is willing to work with the county's requested contract language before any final agreement is signed.

Her remarks were read into the record and were followed by county commissioners asking for a written contract that protects both parties and addresses insurance, cancellation, and venue.