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JBC directs split of CBI lab/investigative budget lines, delays some staffing and reimbursement decisions amid assault‑kit backlog review
Summary
The committee ordered the Colorado Bureau of Investigation’s subdivision budget split into separate program lines for laboratory services and investigative services to improve transparency while it considers proposals to speed forensic testing of sexual‑assault kits.
The Joint Budget Committee considered Department of Public Safety follow‑up materials about the CBI laboratory backlog of sexual‑assault kits and related policy proposals. Staff recommended several actions to increase transparency and to create options for capacity building.
Alfredo Kim (JBC staff) said the department agreed with some staff recommendations but raised questions about capacity and the fiscal mechanics of a proposed reimbursement payment to local labs and a statewide coordinator position. Staff proposed splitting the CBI subdivision’s single personal‑services and operating expense lines into two distinct program lines—CBI Laboratory Services and CBI Investigative Services—to provide clearer tracking of expenditures tied to lab testing and investigative functions.
The committee discussed options to shorten testing turnaround by outsourcing more cases and whether to adopt a $2,000 per‑kit statutory payment to local labs and a separate $1,000 capacity‑building reimbursement. Committee members raised concerns about diverting operating funds from CBI to other purposes and about the time needed to hire and train scientific staff. Several members said they wanted to see progress on the allocations already approved before authorizing additional reimbursement programs or standing coordinator positions.
After discussion the committee directed staff to split the two line items so that spending and deployment for lab services and investigative services can be tracked separately; the committee postponed decisions on the proposed reimbursement and coordinator and asked staff to return with progress reporting. Committee members emphasized they want to verify results on the first actions before approving further statutory changes or ongoing expense shifts.
Why it matters: The CBI forensic backlog has been a public concern; splitting line items intends to give the Legislature clearer oversight of how appropriations are used and whether new payment mechanisms produce reduced backlogs.
Next steps: Staff will present split line items and progress updates; committee postponed final action on the $1,000 capacity‑building payments and the statewide coordinator pending follow‑up reporting.
Ending: The committee recorded a motion to split the line items to support transparency and monitoring; it asked for a follow‑up report on progress before acting on additional statutory payments.
