Grand Canyon Times

Senate Republicans in Arizona are advancing legislation aimed at supporting public safety personnel through pay raises and sustained resources for the Arizona Department of Corrections. Two bills have recently passed the Senate and await further consideration in the House.

SB 1144, sponsored by Senate Public Safety Committee Chairman Kevin Payne, proposes allowing Maricopa County to extend a jail excise tax for up to 20 years. This tax has been used for three decades to fund adult jails and juvenile detention facilities, including their maintenance and renovations. Chairman Payne emphasized the importance of this revenue, stating, "Providing our men and women in law enforcement with the resources they need to keep our communities safe is a top priority of mine."

Another bill, SB 1010, also sponsored by Chairman Payne, seeks to provide pay raises for correctional officers and other staff at the DOC. The proposal includes a $103.3 million appropriation from the state general fund to support these increases. "Funding public safety is a top responsibility of government," said Chairman Payne. He noted that DOC employees are among the lowest paid public safety officers in Arizona and stressed the importance of compensating them appropriately.

Chairman Payne expressed optimism about reaching a consensus on these measures with bipartisan support: "I do know this is a priority for Republicans, Democrats, and the Governor."