State investigations director seeks $14M for lab repairs, fleet modernization and fee increase to fund staff

Executive Director Rick Mashburn told the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Judiciary and Public Safety that his investigative agency has four priority appropriation requests intended to stabilize staffing, modernize equipment and repair a laboratory suffering moisture and negative‑air‑pressure damage.

Mashburn asked for 11 positions across information services, human resources, a criminalist to sustain a rapid‑DNA program, a procurement officer and two field agents to fill regional coverage gaps. He said a separate bill raising background‑check fees from $15 to $20 would, if enacted, pay for many information‑services positions and reduce the appropriation request.

"Those came into existence in 1994 and have never been raised. So we're asking for a $5 increase on those," Mashburn said during questioning about fee scope.

Mashburn also described a fleet modernization plan that would buy about 30 vehicles per year to replace a roughly 150‑vehicle fleet on a five‑year cycle. He said the department currently spends about $400,000 annually patching older vehicles and estimated an average upfit cost around $70,000 per vehicle.

On capital needs, Mashburn said repairs at the laboratory total roughly $14,000,000 due to negative air pressure and moisture problems; he reported paperwork is filed with the Long Range Capital Planning Commission. He said the agency also is exploring purchasing and remodeling an existing building (the Chesapeake campus was cited as an option) that could cut a new‑build cost from roughly $30,000,000 to about $6,000,000, and that cost‑sharing with the Bureau of Narcotics could reduce per‑agency expense.

Committee members requested clarification on fee impacts, vehicle costs and whether the agency would keep the current contract for certain software and services. Mashburn said some proposed funding would be unnecessary if a pending legislation that adds penalties for expired tags passes and provides department revenue.

The committee did not take formal votes on the funding requests during the presentation.