Williamson County commissioners are working out the details for an interlocal agreement with the Texas Department of Public Safety to speed up felony and misdemeanor controlled substance and blood alcohol evidence testing.

During the regular court meetingOct. 7, commissioners began discussingthe terms of a contract that will hire two DPS employees at the expense of the county.

Many other counties of our size either have their own crime lab or a situation like this because the cost of us keeping people in jail while they wait for the testing is far greater than this, Commissioner Lisa Birkman said. Thats why it makes sense for us to do it.

Williamson County will spend $112,525.52 in the agreement, which was approved as part of the fiscal year 2015 budget.

The Crime Laboratory Service of DPS will hire the employees to perform an analysis of controlled substances, marijuana and blood alcohol evidence submitted by the countys law enforcement.

The contract holds DPS to a 30-calendar-day or less turn around time for the controlled substance testing and 10-calendar-days or less turn around for blood alcohol testing.

County Attorney Dee Hobbs said turn around time on testing is anissue at the justice center.

It was a problem before Michael Morton, its almost suffocating now in light of Michael Morton, Hobbs said. Weve got real problems.

In 1986, Morton was wrongfully convicted to life in prison. He was released in 2011 when DNA evidence proved his innocence.

Hobbs said that on a good stretch the turn around time for drug testing is roughly six months.

I would greatly appreciate if they would hit the marks that theyve put in this agreement, he said. I think it is a lofty goal for them. I think with dedicated personnel we are closer to reaching it, but anything, any improvement to what we are doing now will be worth the money.

The agreement is a three-year contract that is to be renewed annually. DPS may terminate the contract with 30 days written notice, however, as it is now, there is no termination clause for Williamson County.

Birkman said the contract was set up this way because DPS has to hire and train the employees for the position, but the issue raised concerns.

I get that theyve got to hire employees, but what if they are failing, Commissioner Cynthia Long said. The whole reason were paying for this is to make it faster. If theyre not moving up to that 30-day and that 10-day time frame, why are we funding the state?

The contract is expected to be on the Oct. 14agenda following discussions with DPS to add a clause for Williamson County to terminate the agreement with cause.