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JFAC backs $1.27 million in DOPL enhancements including vehicle replacement and laptops
Summary
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved $1,268,900 in dedicated funds for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses to address inspector pay, replace fleet vehicles, and update hardware, funding entirely from fee-based dedicated funds.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted to add $1,268,900 in dedicated funds to the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) budget for FY2026 to address staffing pay, vehicle replacement and hardware updates.
Legislative staff told the committee the division requested three enhancements totaling $1,268,900 from dedicated funds. Those requests included an ongoing amount to increase pay for inspector positions (amount listed in the packet as shown to members), $900,500 one-time dedicated funds to replace 23 vehicles in the fleet (including specified Ford models), and $146,400 one-time dedicated funds for hardware recommended by the Office of Information Technology Services, including conference-room audiovisual equipment and 76 standard laptops with docking stations and networking equipment.
The division said inspector positions experience high turnover, citing exit-interview data that identified pay as a primary factor; the analyst said current pay rates were below industry standards and noted inspector vacancies averaged 26 with a high vacancy rate reported in recent years.
Representative Furness moved the package, which totaled $1,268,900 from dedicated funds; Senator Quick seconded. The committee approved the motion. The recorded tally was 9 ayes and 1 nay in the senate delegation and 7 ayes and 3 nays in the house delegation, for a combined total of 16 ayes and 4 nays. With a majority in favor, the bill will be forwarded with a do-pass recommendation.
DOPL oversees more than 200,000 licensees across 45 boards and commissions, the analyst said, and operates entirely on dedicated funds generated by fees assessed to regulated boards.
