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Rep. Gillette proposes $240,000 for crime lab recruitment and retention
Summary
Representative Jane Gillette told the House Appropriations Committee she seeks two one-time appropriations of $120,000 to help the state crime lab recruit and retain specialized staff, citing staffing losses and lengthy training for forensic scientists.
Representative Jane Gillette introduced House Bill 870 to the House Appropriations Committee as an appropriation request totaling $240,000 in one-time-only funds — $120,000 in the current year and $120,000 the next fiscal year — to support recruitment and retention at the Montana State Crime Lab.
Gillette said the lab in Missoula has “very technical scientists” who require years of training and that the lab was losing staff to private employers after training. She told the committee she recently toured the facility and that small, targeted funds to aid recruitment and retention could be “really meaningful” after the lab recently lost at least one medical professional.
Committee members expressed general support and asked why the Department of Justice and the crime lab had not been present to testify in favor of the request; Gillette said she expected a coordination issue and would follow up to get departmental input.
Representative Nave and others noted related appropriations in House Bill 2 had addressed medical examiner staffing, but said additional, targeted help for the crime lab could still be warranted because of growing caseloads and substance-abuse related work. Representative Walsh asked whether the governor’s budget office process would be more appropriate; Gillette said she favored a direct legislative appropriation to keep control within the Legislature.
Gillette indicated she would accept a reporting requirement as a friendly amendment and asked the committee for a due-pass recommendation.
Why it matters: The crime lab processes forensic evidence that can affect the pace of criminal cases and victims’ ability to get timely resolution. Lawmakers said staffing and retention issues had delayed casework and that targeted funds could mitigate immediate gaps.
What’s next: The bill closed its hearing and the sponsor requested a due-pass recommendation; no formal roll-call vote was recorded at the close of the hearing.
