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Attorney general asks panel to make crime lab director a classified position; committee votes to advance bill
Summary
The Attorney General's Office proposed Senate Bill 2050 to move the director of the State Crime Laboratory from an appointed position to a classified division director; the committee approved a due‑pass recommendation.
The State and Local Government Committee voted to advance Senate Bill 2050 after hearing from the Attorney General's Office, which proposed removing language that makes the director of the State Crime Laboratory an appointed position.
Chief Deputy Attorney General Claire Ness introduced the bill and said it is "a very simple bill": remove the statutory provision that allows the attorney general to remove the crime lab director without cause and instead treat the laboratory director like other division directors as a classified employee. Ness said the change would give the crime lab director the same protections as other division directors and align that position with the agency's other classified roles.
Senator Jose Castaneda asked about the history of the appointment status; Ness said she did not recall exactly when the position was singled out in statute but confirmed that, to her knowledge, the crime lab director is currently the only position in the office explicitly specified as an appointee. Committee members offered no substantive opposition during the hearing.
Senator Lee moved a due‑pass recommendation; the motion carried on a roll call with Chair Christian Rohrs, Vice Chair Jose Castaneda, Senator Jeff Bridal, Senator Brownberger, Senator Lee and Senator Wallen recorded as voting aye (6‑0). Senator Barta volunteered to carry the bill to the floor.
