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JFAC forwards $1.27 million in DOPL enhancements for inspector pay, vehicles and IT
Summary
The committee approved $1,268,900 in dedicated funds for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses to raise inspector pay, replace selected fleet vehicles and upgrade hardware, citing high turnover among inspector positions and aging equipment.
The Joint Finance Appropriations Committee approved an additional $1,268,900 in dedicated funds for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) for fiscal year 2026, the committee’s analyst said. The committee recorded a do‑pass recommendation on a recorded vote.
Kellen McGurkin, budget analyst with Legislative Services, told members DOPL requested three enhancements totaling $1,268,900 from dedicated funds, paid from fees on regulated boards and commissions. “The first request for $222,000 in ongoing dedicated funds would increase pay for inspector positions in the Bureau of Building Construction and Real Estate by an average of ninety‑five cents per hour across 92 full‑time positions,” McGurkin said. The division reported persistent vacancies and turnover among inspectors and cited pay below industry standards as a contributing factor.
The package also included $900,500 in one‑time dedicated funds to replace vehicles in the division fleet. McGurkin itemized the fleet request as including $648,000 for 16 Ford F‑150s, $65,000 for five Ford Escapes, $44,500 for one Ford F‑250, and $43,000 for one Ford Explorer; DOPL said those vehicles would largely be used by inspector staff who travel statewide.
Finally, the division requested $146,400 in one‑time dedicated funds for hardware recommended by the Office of Information Technology Services. McGurkin said that amount includes about $23,300 for conference‑room audio/video equipment at two office locations and roughly $123,100 for 76 standard laptops, 35 docking stations and a small number of routers, switches and wireless access points.
Representative Furness moved the motion; Senator Quick seconded. The committee recorded 16 ayes and 4 nays and forwarded the package with a do‑pass recommendation.
Policy and reporting change: After the funding motion, members considered and accepted language aligning DOPL’s reporting requirements in its appropriation bill to policy Bill 152, including a quarterly reporting requirement for revenues and expenses of each of DOPL’s 45 boards and commissions and increasing the upper cap on individual fund balances that trigger corrective action reporting from 25% to 50% per a Legislative Audits Division recommendation. That language was adopted by unanimous consent and will be included when the bill is forwarded.
