Director Ryan indicated yesterday that he intends to rescind the policy, DO 525, Chronic Absence Classification (CAC). The leadership of ACA has been working for more that 18 months to convince Director Ryan that the CAC procedure was not effective in addressing employee absences and not being applied equally to all staff in regards to determining CAC placement. Director Ryan will officially removed CAC from ADC policy in the upcoming weeks.

Glenn Conlon
President

This attachment is the latest Version of HB2571 state Personnel Reform bill overhaul. More amendments should be expected in the coming weeks.

Glenn Conlon,
ACA President

PERSONNEL OVERHAUL CLEARS COMMITTEE, BUT AWAITS AMENDMENTS

PHOENIX, February 17 - House employ-reg affairs last night approved H2571, Brewer's personnel reform plan, on a 6-3 party line vote over the objections of numerous public sector unions. Though every Republican voted for the bill, several said they had issues with it, a sign that Brewer's plan is not destined to land on her desk quickly. Kavanagh, a retired law enforcement officer, said he had concerns about the elimination of most of the grievance and appeal system, as well as the elimination of the State Personnel Board's ability to modify disciplinary actions. But he said he was voting for the bill in order to allow it to stay alive and be amended. "I'm not willing to commit to this bill, but out of respect to the governor, I'll move it forward, because this is the last train out of Dodge," Kavanagh said. Farnsworth, too, said he had some issues with the bill, and was especially interested in reviewing the provisions affecting law enforcement officers. He said he may not support the bill in its entirety right now, but supports the concept. "We probably need to work on it," he said. Robson said he felt that DOA Director Scott Smith, who testified at the hearing, indicated that the Ninth Floor was receptive to some of the concerns raised, especially in regards to law enforcement. AZ POST Executive Director Lyle Mann echoed that sentiment when he told the committee that he wanted his employees to remain covered under the merit system to protect them from retaliation in politically sensitive investigations, and to remain in the separate system for law enforcement personnel. Mann said he spoke with Smith, who he said was "sensitive to our needs and issues." Law enforcement unions also were adamant that their civilian employees not become at-will. Representatives from the Arizona Highway Patrol Association, Arizona Police Association, and the Fraternal Order of Police urged the committee to keep civilian employees under the same merit protection umbrella as sworn officers.

*The term Law Enforcement means corrections and law enforcement in this case.*