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Committee advances wide pay proposal for corrections, DPS and courts amid intense debate
Summary
SB 10-61 would appropriate large sums for 50% salary increases for certain corrections, DPS and court employees; the committee gave the bill a due-pass recommendation after lengthy debate about vacancies, overtime costs and whether the Administrative Office of the Courts should be included.
The committee considered SB 10-61, a broad appropriation measure proposing significant salary increases for employees of the Arizona Department of Corrections (ADC), the Department of Juvenile Corrections, the Department of Public Safety and the Administrative Office of the Courts.
Sponsor Senator Gowen said the state faces large vacancies—ADC was described as having roughly an 18% vacancy rate—and high overtime costs that could be reduced by raising pay to retain staff. Supporters representing the Fraternal Order of Police, the Arizona State Troopers Association and the Fraternal Order of Police Local 32 detailed recruitment, retention and safety problems tied to low pay and facility conditions.
Several committee members praised the objective of improving pay for public-safety employees but raised procedural objections to lumping multiple appropriations in a public-safety committee rather than in Appropriations. Representative Collin and others opposed including an $8.5 million increase for the Administrative Office of the Courts in the bill and warned they might not support such a provision on the budget. Senator Gowen said the court provision addresses long-unaddressed staff pay for court clerks and administrative staff.
After extensive debate and several members reserving their floor votes, the committee voted 8 ayes, 3 nays, 3 present and 1 absent and gave SB 10-61 a due-pass recommendation.
