Senate committee advances 5% pay raise for corrections employees, amendment extends raise to private-prison staff

A Senate committee on Monday adopted an amendment and advanced Senate Bill 10-35, a measure to provide a 5% pay increase for correctional officers and department-employed civilians.

The committee adopted an 11-line amendment in Senator Kavanaugh’s name that specifies an appropriation of $34,000,000 and extends the 5% increase to employees of private prisons that house inmates under contract with the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (ADCRR). Samuel Rosenberg, the committee’s assistant analyst, told members the amendment “specifies that the appropriation is $34,000,000 and extends the 5% salary increase to the employees of private prisons.”

Why it matters: Testimony to the committee emphasized workforce pressures. Joe Clure, executive director of the Arizona Police Association, speaking on behalf of the Arizona Corrections Association president, said DOC faces retention challenges and cited a 14.1% vacancy rate for security personnel and roughly 1,100 vacant DOC positions. Clure compared starting wages cited on employer websites — “DOC currently makes $21.93 an hour” versus CoreCivic Florence “$28.2 an hour start” — and said the market gap is driving departures.

Debate focused on parity, cost, and scope. Supporters said the raise is needed to retain staff and reduce vacancies; opponents warned that sending state funds to private prisons raises policy and incentive concerns. Senator Epstein explained a nay vote by saying constituents “burst into flames when we talk about putting more money into private prisons,” and argued private-prison contracts create perverse incentives for incarceration. Senator QB (explain-my-vote) questioned whether the increase is stable versus a permanent raise in the executive budget.

Committee action and next steps: Senator Leach moved the amendment and then the bill as amended. After roll-call votes and several “explain my vote” statements, the committee recorded a 6–3–1 result (6 ayes, 3 no, 1 not voting) and gave SB 10-35 as amended a due-pass recommendation. The bill will move toward floor consideration and additional committees as required for appropriations measures.

What’s not in the record: Witnesses and senators repeatedly asked for apples-to-apples fiscal comparisons between public and private prisons, exit-interview data on reasons for staff departures, and an expanded JLBC salary analysis; the committee did not resolve those requests on the floor and some senators said they expect further review on the floor.