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ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES57th Legislature, 2nd Regular Session |
Senate: ED DP 4-2-1-0 | Third Read 19-11-0-0 |
SCR1012: community college students; teachers academy
S/E: compensation; independent salary commission
Sponsor: Senator Gowan, LD 19
Committee on Appropriations
Summary of the Strike-Everything Amendment to SCR1012
Overview
Subject to voter approval, renames the Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers as the Independent Salary Commission (Commission) and modifies the member composition and duties of the Commission. Removes the requirement that changes to legislative salaries become effective only if approved by voters.
History
The Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers is comprised of five members, two of whom are appointed by the Governor and one each by the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chief Justice. The commission reports to the Governor with recommendations concerning the rates of pay of elected state officers, and those recommendations become effective unless the legislature establishes different rates or disapproves of the recommendations, except that the salaries of state legislators must be approved by voters (Arizona Constitution, Art. V § 21).
The current salary for state legislators was set at $24,000 in 1998 with the passage of Proposition 302 (SOS). Statute determines additional travel and subsistence reimbursement, or per diem, payments for legislative members (A.R.S. § 41-1104).
Provisions
1. Adds justices and judges of courts of record and clerks of the Superior Court as positions whose salaries shall be established by law from time to time, subject to Constitutional limits.
2. Renames the Commission on Salaries for Elective State Officers as the Independent Salary Commission (Commission)
3. Sets the member composition of the Commission as follows:
a. the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court or a designee who is a judge; and
b. six members from private life appointed as follows;
i. two who are from different political parties appointed by the Governor;
ii. one appointed by the President of the Senate;
iii. one appointed by the Minority Party Leader of the Senate;
iv. one appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and
v. one appointed by the Minority Party Leader of the House of Representatives.
4. Designates the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, or their designee, as the Chairperson of the Commission.
5. Requires a Vice Chairman be selected from among the members.
6. Allows the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to fill the position if the Governor, the President of the Senate, or the Speaker of the House fails to make an appointment on or before June 30 of each odd-numbered year.
7. Beginning in 2027, sets two-year terms for members.
8. Requires the Commission to report annually to the Governor, President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House with recommendations concerning the salaries of elected state officers, justices and judges of courts of record and clerks of the Superior Court.
9. Removes the requirement that the Governor make recommendations to the Legislature with respect to salaries.
10. Allows the Commission to conduct salary comparisons, consider changes to the cost of living, and use other methodologies deemed proper.
11. Allows the legislature, by law, to dictate the frequency and manner of Commission meetings, provide for travel and subsistence expenses of members and specify the date for the transmittal of recommendations.
12. Stipulates that the recommendations of the Commission become effective on July 1 following the transmittal of the recommendations, unless the Legislature enacts a law establishing other rates of pay or both houses of the Legislature disapprove all or part of the recommendations by joint resolution by June 30 of the following calendar year.
13. Removes the requirement that recommendations regarding legislative salaries be submitted to the voters at a general election and become effective only if approved by voters.
14. Sets the annual salary of state legislators as sixty percent of the Governor's salary, beginning on the second Monday in January of 2027.
15. Directs the Legislative Council staff to prepare proposed legislation conforming the Arizona Revised Statutes to the provisions of this act.
16. Requires the Secretary of State to submit the proposition to the voters at the next general election.
17. Becomes effective if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor.
18. Makes technical and conforming changes.
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Initials DS SCR 1012
3/27/2026 Page 0 Appropriations
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