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JFAC backs $1.27 million for DOPL inspector pay, fleet and IT replacements; accepts reporting language
Summary
The Joint Finance Committee approved $1,268,900 in dedicated funds for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses to pay for inspector pay increases, fleet replacements and IT upgrades, and accepted language requiring quarterly financial reporting from the division’s 45 boards and commissions.
The Joint Finance Committee approved $1,268,900 from dedicated funds for the Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) to address inspector pay, fleet replacement and IT hardware needs and accepted conforming appropriation-language to require expanded financial reporting from boards and commissions.
Budget analyst Kellen McGurkin told the committee DOPL oversees about 200,000 licensees across 45 boards and commissions and is fully supported by dedicated funds collected through licensing fees. The committee record shows the appropriation package included: an ongoing dedicated-fund increase of $222,000 for inspector pay adjustments, a $900,500 one-time dedicated-fund request to replace vehicles in the division’s fleet and $146,400 in one-time dedicated funds for Office of Information Technology–recommended hardware and conference-room equipment.
The fleet and vehicle breakdown presented to the committee included $648,000 for 16 Ford F-150s, $160,500 for five Ford Escapes, $44,500 for one Ford F-250 and $43,000 for one Ford Explorer. IT and hardware totals included $23,300 for conference-room audio/video equipment and $123,100 for 76 standard laptops (replacing approximately 27% of DOPL’s reported laptop inventory), plus docking stations and networking gear.
Representative Furness moved the funding package and Senator Quick seconded. The committee approved the motion on a recorded vote of 16 ayes and 4 nays; the recommendation will move forward as a bill with a do-pass recommendation.
Separately, the committee accepted language aligning the division’s appropriation reporting requirements to policy bill 152. The language, adopted by unanimous consent, requires quarterly reports to the Legislative Services Office and to each related board and commission on the expenses and revenues of each of the 45 boards and commissions, and increases the upper cap on individual fund balances that trigger a corrective action plan from 25% to 50%, per recommendation of the Legislative Audits Division.
