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Important Update

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State Personnel Board

Revision Date

Agency Contact Information

State Personnel Board

Authority

The State Personnel Board hears appeals filed by covered state employees regarding dismissal, suspension or demotion. Statutory authority is found in A.R.S.§§41-781 et seq. The current State Personnel Board (Board) was established by Laws 1972, Chapter 141, and replaced the State Personnel Commission which had existed since 1968. Statutory authority has been amended a number of times since the Board was originally created.

Function

The Board hears and reviews appeals relating to personnel actions taken against state employees, dismissals from state service, suspensions of more than 80 working hours and demotions resulting from disciplinary actions. The Board also hears and reviews complaints filed under the whistleblower statutes (A.R.S.§§38-531 et seq.).

The Board may uphold a disciplinary decision; recommend modification of an agency's disciplinary action; or reverse a decision and return the employee to the same position held before the dismissal or demotion. The agency involved can accept, modify or reverse the Board's decision. An appeals process for decisions of the Board or the agency is provided in statute (A.R.S.§ 41-783). The Board consists of five members, appointed by the Governor to three-year terms.

History

The origin of the State Personnel Board can be traced back to 1968, when the State Personnel Commission was established as part of the State Personnel Administration (Laws 1968, Chapter 200). The Commission was authorized to develop and administer a program of personnel administration for the state; promulgate rules and regulations, including a classification plan for all positions in state service and provisions for competitive examinations for those positions; hear and review appeals; conduct investigations; and establish offices as needed to maintain an effective and economical program of personnel administration. The Commission was also authorized to meet with the Law Enforcement Merit System Council to discuss matters of mutual concern (See Law Enforcement Merit System Council, this document).

In 1972, the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) was created and assumed responsibility for the State Personnel Commission. The ADOA also assumed responsibility for several other agencies, including: the Department of Library and Archives; the Department of Public Buildings Maintenance; the Department of Finance; the Surplus Property Agency, the Board of History and Archives; and the Historical Advisory Commission. Property, funds and personnel related to those agencies were transferred to ADOA as well (Laws 1972, Chapter 141). ADOA was organized into six divisions, one of which was Personnel Administration and created the State Personnel Board, consisting of five members appointed by the Governor to five year terms. The chairman of the Board served as an ex-officio member of the Law Enforcement Merit System Council, without voting privileges. The effective date of the act was July 1, 1973.

Laws 2001, Chapter 21 provided the Board 45 days, rather than 30 days, to issue a decision and provide notice to affected parties.

Comprehensive personnel reform legislation adopted in 2012 modified certain provisions of the State Personnel Board (Laws 2012, Chapter 321).

Sources

  • Arizona Revised Statutes § 41-781 et seq.
  • Session Laws
    • Laws 1968, Chapter 200
    • Laws 1972, Chapter 141
    • Laws 2001, Chapter 21
    • Laws 2012, Chapter 321
  • Master List of State Programs