GBI seeks pay increases for examiners and lab staff, and Congress-level debate grows over gang database transfer

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation told the Senate committee it needs targeted pay adjustments and operating funds to retain forensic staff and expand investigative capability.

On medical examiners, agency leaders described pay compression and asked for salary increases plus two additional salary steps for long-tenured doctors. "This version adds increase in the medical examiner salaries by 30,000 and addresses compression by adding 2 salary levels based on tenure," a GBI official said. The agency reported 19 funded medical examiner slots with several vacancies and conditional offers in the pipeline.

GBI also backed an 8% pay increase for evidence-receiving technicians and lab techs, which the agency said would raise entry pay from about $46,088 to roughly $50,002 and help reduce turnover among evidence technicians. The agency requested a $2,000 across-the-board adjustment for laboratory scientists to keep benches filled.

Separately, GBI described purchasing a portable electronic surveillance platform and requested one-time funds for three agent positions to run the system. The agency said the platform will be deployed to improve statewide electronic surveillance coverage.

Committee members pressed GBI on a House proposal to transfer a new, more thorough gang case-management system to the Georgia Emergency Management and Homeland Security Agency. GBI described the system as a "much more robust system" that links case management and provides statewide connectivity to support gang investigations. Some senators argued the system belongs at GBI; agency leaders said local law enforcement could participate via memoranda of understanding.

Lawmakers asked for staffing counts, vacancy details and documentation of recruitment outcomes before acting on the budget requests.