Members gain rights, benefits in 2008 

Arizona correctional officers were big winners in the 2008 legislative session as officers gained meet and confer rights as well as increased benefits under the Corrections Officer Retirement Plan.

Through an Executive Order from Gov. Janet Napolitano, the Arizona Correctional Peace Officers Association (AZCPOA) secured rights to meet and confer with Department of Corrections leadership. Union representatives may meet quarterly with the ADC Director to discuss issues relating to officer working conditions.

Read the Executive Order

Ordinary disability retirement for non-dispatcher members of the CORP was approved by lawmakers in House Bill 2117. 

Until 2007, ordinary disability retirement was available for full-time dispatcher members only. But that year, the Legislature conditionally enacted a measure that would extend the benefits to all members of CORP effective in 2010 if the annual actuarial valuation of CORP in 2009 indicated the ratio of accrued assets to accrued liabilities was at least 100 percent. 

In order to extend this benefit to all CORP members, lawmakers this year temporarily raised the employee contribution rate so that the 100 percent funding level would be reached faster. That way more officers have access to the benefit. When the CORP is completely funded, the employee's contribution rate drops from 8.41 percent to 7.96 percent.

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