An update on key bills pending in the Arizona Legislature

(Posted: May 28, 2009)

By Luis Ebratt
Director of Government Relations

What follows is an update on recent significant legislation of interest to AZCOPS members.

SB1028. AZCOPS has been assured by State Sen. Al Melvin (R-26) of Oro Valley as recently as May 26 that privatization has no traction. On May 27, State Sen. Russell Pearce (R-18) of Mesa informed me that he would be offering an alternate proposal to privatization (the state to borrow on currently owned facilities, i.e., second mortgage).

SB1035. Among other provisions, this bill sought to increase employee contributions in pensions administered by PSPRS. On May 27, Sen. Pearce advised he would be removing this provision from the legislation and would be asking for a committee to study the PSPRS administered retirement plan during the summer. He invited AZCOPS to participate in the study group. 

Note: The PSPRS has a legal opinion about the proposed increase and it was determined to be unconstitutional.

HB2636. This bill has not moved since first introduced in Appropriations Committee. AZCOPS was assured by State Representatives John Kavanagh (R-18) of Fountain Hills, and Andy Biggs (R-22) of Gilbert that the pension increase, which mirrors SB1035, had no support in the House. This bill is reportedly dead.

All other Legislation introduced by AZCOPS is presumed dead due to budget demands/priority.

Members are urged to take this opportunity to contact your Senate majority members and ask them to support Senator Pearce's proposals as an alternative to privatization (in the case of SB1028) and the removal of the employee pension increase (in the case of SB1035).  

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