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ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Seventh Legislature, Second Regular Session
AMENDED
public pensions; proxy voting
(NOW: first responders; state death benefit)
As passed by the Senate, S.B. 1503 prohibited a public entity's retirement plan from entering into an agreement with a proxy advisory firm for proxy advisory services unless the firm acknowledges its obligations to vote all shares in the sole economic interest of the plan's participants and beneficiaries as outlined by the plan.
The House of Representatives adopted a strike-everything amendment that does the following:
Purpose
An emergency measure that adds pilots employed by law enforcement agencies (LEAs) to the first responders who qualify for the state death benefit. Contains requirements for enactment for initiatives and referendums (Proposition 105).
Background
In addition to any other death benefit, if a first responder is killed in the line of duty, the state must pay a state death benefit of $250,000 from the State Supplemental Benefit Fund (Fund) to the first responder's surviving spouse on written notice to the State Treasurer from the first responder's employer. If the first responder does not have a surviving spouse but has children, the state must pay a state death benefit of $250,000, divided equally among the first responder's children. The state death benefit must be paid within 30 days after receiving the written notice from the first responder's employer. The Fund consists of legislative appropriations and monies collected from a $20 penalty fee on every criminal conviction and is administered by the State Treasurer for the purpose of providing state death benefits to first responders killed in the line of duty (A.R.S. §§ 38-1172 and 38-1173). The state death benefit for first responders killed in the line of duty and the $20 penalty fee on criminal convictions expire on January 1, 2033.
A first responder who qualifies for the state death benefit is a peace officer, a firefighter, fire marshal, fire inspector, emergency medical care technician or paramedic engaged in the execution of any official duties or a tribal police officer and includes a member of the Arizona National Guard who is on state active duty in Arizona and a correctional officer who is employed by the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry (A.R.S. §§ 13-1204 and 38-1171).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this legislation.
Provisions
1. Modifies the definition of first responder to include a pilot who is employed by an LEA.
2. Makes conforming changes.
3. Requires for enactment the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the members of each house of the Legislature (Proposition 105).
4. Becomes effective on signature of the Governor, if the emergency clause is enacted, retroactive to January 1, 2026.
Amendments Adopted by the House of Representatives
ˇ Adopted the strike-everything amendment relating to death benefits for first responders.
House Action
WM 3/26/26 W/D
APPROP 3/31/26 DPA/SE 18-0-0-1
3rd Read 4/13/26 54-0-6
Prepared by Senate Research
April 13, 2026
KJA/hk