BISMARCK, ND (KXNET) — The North Dakota State Legislature's Government Services Committee is looking over plans to build a larger state crime lab as space has become overcrowded with more staff working in the current building since it was first built. During the last legislative session, state money was appropriated to fund a 10-month study on designing a larger building that could handle more caseloads. In the past 15 years, the caseload at the state crime lab in North Dakota has increased over 40%, and with more evidence coming in, they are running out of space to process it. In a public meeting at the capitol on Thursday, September 19, members of the Government Services Committee heard from two architects who have been working on the new crime lab study. They presented three different locations in Bismarck for the Legislature to consider as sites to build the new crime lab, including expansion of the current building so it could accommodate a growing staff. Civil Air Patrol to hold open house at Avflight Brian Berg, Principal Architect at Zerr Berg Architects, told the committee that the crime lab's staff has almost doubled in the past 16 years. "Unfortunately, that facility was built for 16 people at that time, so they are very overcrowded," said Berg. According to the study, it would cost the state between $43 million and $48 million to construct a new crime lab building, or expand the current one. If state lawmakers approve a bill in the upcoming legislative session, construction could start late next year. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW