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Investigations division asks for eight special investigators as caseloads remain high
Summary
Deputy Chief Nicole BS told the committee the proposed 2026-27 governor's budget includes the BRN request for eight special investigator positions, but hires would depend on legislative approval; she described mapping work, an enhanced triage pilot and current investigator caseloads averaging ~29 active cases each.
Deputy Chief Nicole BS presented the investigations division update and described a multi-pronged effort to reduce case-processing time and backlog. She said investigators worked with the Office of Improvement to map workflows and began two weekly workshops to accelerate the mapping process.
Nicole told members the board submitted a budget change proposal for eight additional special investigator positions; the governor’s proposed 2026–27 budget includes that request, but she emphasized the positions are not yet approved and must pass through the Legislature and the May revision process before hiring can occur. "We really hope that they see our need, support our need," she said, and staff plan to post duty statements July 1 if funding is authorized.
She described operational pilots and staffing: an enhanced triage and preliminary-case-work pilot launched June 10, 2025, and is concluding this month; the board resumed nursing-education-specialist review of complaints to screen for scope-of-practice issues; and full-time special investigators have an average of 29 active cases. Nicole and other staff said they expect hiring and training to take months, so immediate reductions to backlog are not guaranteed even if positions are approved.
Committee members praised the incremental improvements shown in investigation-time metrics and urged staff to continue monitoring outcomes. The division will report pilot results and mapping outcomes at a future board meeting and continue recruitment efforts if positions are authorized.
