Senate committee advances bill to increase county detention officers' retirement contributions after hours of testimony

The Arizona Senate Committee on Public Safety voted to advance Senate Bill 1148, adopting a six‑page strike‑everything amendment and moving the measure to the full Senate with a recorded committee vote of 5–2.

The amendment, presented to the committee as dated Feb. 17, 2025, sets the employee contribution rate at 7.5% for county detention officers who participate in the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS) defined contribution plan and who were hired on or after Jan. 1, 2026. It also establishes an employer contribution schedule beginning July 1, 2026, for county detention officers hired on or after July 1, 2018, that starts at 10% for up to three years of service and rises to 22.5% for 15 or more years of service.

Why it matters: county sheriffs and detention officers told the committee that chronic staffing shortages and high turnover put jail operations at risk, and they urged state action to make detention work more sustainable. County leaders and the County Supervisors Association said the change could create significant new costs for counties and preferred locally tailored solutions backed by the ASU workforce study now underway.

Molly Graver, a finance analyst who explained the amendment to the committee, summarized its main provisions: “the 6 page strike everything amendment in your name dated 02/17/2025 at 08:58AM sets the employee contribution rate at 7.5% for county detention officers who participate in the PSPRS defined contribution plan and who were hired on or after 01/01/2026. Additionally, beginning 07/01/2026, the amendment sets an employer contribution schedule based on years of service for county detention officers hired on or after 07/01/2018, which begins at 10% for up to 3 years of service and concludes at 22.5% for 15 or more years of service.”

Sheriffs and detention officers: Yavapai County Sheriff David Rhodes, president of the Arizona Sheriffs Association, described the measure as an alternative to restoring a defined‑benefit pension and said the changes are intended to improve retention in corrections. “We’re in a situation now where we are not going to be able to perform basic job functions of corrections in the state if we do not make changes, to the to the compensation and benefits,” Rhodes said.

Several detention officers from Maricopa County gave on‑the‑record testimony about staffing shortages and turnover. Detention officer Kylie Sigman of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office said the bill “is a great step in beginning fairness to the retirement plans for detention officers and bringing our retirement plan more in line with what the deputies receive,” and testified that better retirement prospects would help recruitment and retention. Officer Matthew Campbell and Officer Troy Alsobrook described chronic understaffing, overtime and burnout, and urged passage so corrections positions can become long‑term careers rather than stepping‑stone jobs.

County and fiscal concerns: Craig Sullivan of the County Supervisors Association urged caution, describing the proposal as a “very broad statewide mandate” that could have “significant negative consequences” for county budgets and local workforce investments. Sullivan told the committee a $300,000 grant funded a year‑long study with Arizona State University on detention workforce issues and said county officials prefer data‑driven, locally flexible solutions.

Policy context and next steps: supporters framed the amendment as working within the existing PSPRS defined contribution framework by increasing employee and employer contributions to make the accounts more meaningful over time; opponents warned it imposes new, recurring costs on counties without new state funding. The committee adopted the amendment by voice vote and then gave SB1148 a due‑pass recommendation as amended on a roll call (committee tally: 5 ayes, 2 nays). The bill will now go to the full Senate calendar for further consideration.

Votes and formal action: committee members adopted the 6‑page strike‑everything amendment dated 02/17/2025 (amendment adopted by voice vote) and then voted to report SB1148 as amended with a due‑pass recommendation (committee roll call: 5 ayes, 2 nays).