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JFAC approves DOPL pay, vehicle and IT enhancements and new reporting requirement language
Summary
The committee approved dedicated-fund enhancements for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses to raise inspector pay, replace vehicles and update hardware, and accepted language requiring quarterly reports on boards' revenues and expenses and a higher fund-balance corrective-action threshold.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved three dedicated-fund enhancements for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) and accepted drafting language that alters reporting requirements for the division's 45 boards and commissions.
Kellen McGurkin, budget analyst with Legislative Services, told JFAC DOPL requested $1,268,900 from dedicated funds for FY2026, comprised of an ongoing pay adjustment for inspector positions, a one-time vehicle replacement package, and one-time hardware purchases recommended by the Office of Information Technology Services (ITS). McGurkin said the division is funded entirely from dedicated fees collected from boards and commissions and that the requested ongoing increase is to address inspector pay and high turnover.
The first request would provide ongoing funding to increase pay for inspector positions by an average of $0.95 per hour across 92 full-time positions, which the division identified as the primary reason for past turnover. The committee also approved $900,500 one-time dedicated funds for vehicle replacements intended primarily for inspectors who travel statewide; transcript presentation allocated amounts across vehicle models and bureaus. The committee approved $146,400 one-time dedicated funds for ITS-recommended hardware, including conference-room audiovisual equipment and 76 standard laptops to replace roughly 27% of the division's reported 280 laptops.
Representative Furness moved the package and Senator Quick seconded. A roll call produced a final tally of 16 ayes and 4 nays; the committee chair announced the item will go forward with a do-pass recommendation.
Separately, the committee accepted unanimous-consent language to align DOPL's reporting requirements in its appropriation bill with a recently passed policy bill (Bill 152). The language adds a quarterly reporting requirement for the revenues and expenses of each of the division's 45 boards and commissions, requires those reports be sent to Legislative Services Office and the related board, and raises the corrective-action trigger for a board's individual fund balance from 25% to 50% per a Legislative Audit Division recommendation. The change was accepted by unanimous consent and will accompany the bill with the committee's motion.
The approved dedicated-fund package and revised reporting language will be forwarded under the committee's bill recommendation process.
