Administration withdraws Prop J for crime‑lab drug testing; committee tables item pending parallel Civil Service track

The mayor’s budget director said the administration would withdraw a Prop J outsourcing proposal for controlled‑substance forensic testing and pursue a contract through the Civil Service Commission while a larger review of the crime lab continues.

Greg Wagner, the mayor’s budget director, told the Budget & Finance Committee the proposed step is ‘‘an interim step’’ to meet immediate testing needs while the city conducts a broader discussion about the future of the crime lab, including DNA operations. Wagner said the controlled‑substance testing action would not preclude future decisions about DNA or other lab functions.

Supervisors asked whether the action was indefinite; Wagner and other staff said the intent was to address near‑term testing needs while continuing larger policy deliberations in the coming months. After this clarification Supervisor MacRae moved to table Item 6 based on the administration’s withdrawal of the Prop J proposal; Supervisor Campos seconded and the motion was taken without objection.

Next steps: the item was tabled and staff were directed to proceed with the parallel contract track via the Civil Service Commission while continuing the broader crime‑lab review.