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JFAC approves $1.27 million in dedicated-fund enhancements for Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses
Summary
The committee approved $1,268,900 in dedicated-fund enhancements for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses, covering inspector pay increases, fleet vehicle replacements, and IT/hardware upgrades; the motion passed on a recorded vote.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved $1,268,900 in FY2026 dedicated-fund enhancements for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL), including pay increases for inspectors, replacement of a portion of the agency fleet and hardware upgrades.
Committee budget staff told members DOPL regulates more than 200,000 licensees through 45 boards and commissions and is funded entirely from dedicated funds (fees). Fiscal staff described three requests totaling $1,268,900 in dedicated funds: an ongoing increase to raise inspector pay (to address high turnover), a one-time request to replace 23 vehicles in the fleet, and a one-time request for Office of Information Technology-recommended hardware including laptops and conference-room equipment.
“Kellen McGurkin, a budget analyst with Legislative Services,” explained the agency proposed an ongoing amount (reported in the motion as $222,000) to raise inspector pay by an average of $0.95 per hour across 92 full-time positions; the agency reported inspector vacancies averaging 26 positions and high turnover tied to pay below industry standards. The division also requested $900,500 one-time dedicated funds to replace 23 vehicles (16 Ford F-150s, five Ford Escapes, one F-250 and one Ford Explorer) largely used by inspectors traveling around the state, and $146,400 one-time for IT hardware including 76 standard laptops and associated accessories.
A motion to add $1,268,900 from dedicated funds for DOPL was moved by Representative Furness and seconded by Senator Quick. The committee voted on the motion and the chair announced a roll-call result of 16 ayes and 4 nays; the majority vote advanced the item with a do-pass recommendation.
The committee also approved trailer language aligning DOPL’s reporting requirements in its appropriation bill with a recently passed policy bill (referred to in committee staff remarks as policy bill 152), adding quarterly reporting requirements for each board or commission’s revenues and expenses and raising the corrective-action-plan trigger for fund balances from 25% to 50% per the Legislative Audits Division recommendation. The committee accepted that language by unanimous consent to carry forward with the appropriation action.
