The proposed bill, if enacted, would amend current statutes regarding the administration of the Parity Compensation Fund for law enforcement personnel. Specifically, it would require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to establish and consider benchmarks based on the average total compensation of comparable law enforcement ranks from the three largest county or municipal peer agencies in Arizona when determining expenditures from the Fund. This new requirement aims to enhance the department's ability to recruit and retain qualified personnel. Additionally, the bill would define "total compensation" to include various forms of pay and contributions, such as base salary, educational incentives, and retirement contributions.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the existing language concerning the administration of the Fund by clarifying that the DPS must consider state revenues and employee pay adjustments when administering the Fund, rather than solely when spending the Fund's monies. It also mandates that the most recent benchmarks established by DPS be included in the annual report on state personnel compensation submitted by the Arizona Department of Administration. Overall, these updates aim to improve the compensation structure for law enforcement personnel in Arizona while ensuring transparency and accountability in the use of the Fund.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 41-751, 41-1720
House Engrossed Version: 41-751, 41-1720
Senate Engrossed Version: 41-751, 41-1720
Chaptered Version: 41-751, 41-1720