Committee recommends Board of Technical Professions budget; agency asks to convert contractual help to FTE

The legislative committee recommended the Board of Technical Professions’ FY2026 and FY2027 budgets after hearing KLRD analysis and agency responses about staffing and budget composition.

Joe Adams presented the KLRD budget summary, noting the agency is fee‑funded with no State General Fund component. Adams described a request for a new assistant director FTE (about $86,000) plus $3,000 for furnishings, and he said the agency’s total request was $974,516. Adams explained that prior use of contracted staff for front‑end operations led to a reallocation from contractual services to salaries as the agency has moved the role into regular employment.

Brad Parker, the agency’s executive director, confirmed the conversion rationale and clarified that biennial statutory pay plan adjustments for FY2027 were included by statute; KLRD and the agency walked senators through encumbrance timing and routine increases for rent and software licensing.

Senators asked technical questions about line‑item adjustments and how contractual service figures relate to the requested FTE; KLRD and the agency explained the categorical reallocation and that the FTE request would increase authorized staff from five to six for FY2027.

Senator Reichman moved the committee recommend the budget as presented (accepting the SBC position); Senator Bowser seconded and the committee approved the recommendation by voice vote.