Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA)

Revision Date: 
Saturday, September 9, 2023

AGENCY CONTACT INFORMATION

Arizona Department of Administration

See also: Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records; Governmental Mall Commission (repealed); Arizona Department of Weights and Measures

Authority

The Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA) was established by Laws 1972, Chapter 141. Statutory authority for ADOA is found at §§41-701 et seq. Administrative rules are found at A.A.C. R2-1-401 et seq.

Function

The purpose of ADOA is to provide support to the operation of state government. ADOA provides centralized support services to agencies, enabling the agencies to focus on their specific mission. ADOA also takes a leadership role in developing and implementing statewide solutions for efficiency (ADOA Strategic Plan).

ADOA is headed by a director, appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate, and serves at the pleasure of the Governor (A.R.S. §41-701).

ADOA is currently made up of the following divisions: General Accounting Office; General Services Division; Government Transformation Office; Human Resources Division; State Procurement Office; Governor’s Regulatory Review Council; Risk Management; School Facilities Oversight; Arizona Strategic Enterprise Technology Office; and Benefit Services Division, retrieved 2018). The agency currently administers several programs that were initially established as stand-alone agencies, as described in the History section that follows.

History

Governor McFarland’s State of the State address on January 9, 1956, described the work of the “Arizona Surplus Property Agency,” an interim committee for the distribution of surplus government property to schools, hospitals, and other public institutions. He recommended the interim committee be made permanent. Laws 1956, Chapter 6 created the agency to provide information and assistance to eligible agencies to acquire federal surplus property. The law outlined the duties and responsibilities of the agency; appropriated $50,000 to the Surplus Property Revolving Fund and transferred records and property from the agency established by Executive Order Number 55-N, dated July 27, 1955. The agency operated under the direction of the State Auditor, the State Treasurer, and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

Laws 1960, Chapter 97 established a State Department of Public Buildings Maintenance, outlined its powers and duties, and provided for a superintendent appointed by the Governor to a five-year term. The Superintendent was responsible for capitol grounds and 25 specifically named offices. Unexpended funds made to the Capitol Buildings and Grounds were transferred to the Superintendent.

Laws 1968, Chapter 200 established the State Personnel Commission consisting of five members appointed by the Governor. The law transferred certain records, property, and unexpended funds from the Merit System Board and Council to the Commissioner.

Laws 1972, Chapter 141 repealed Chapter 4 of Title 41, and enacted new Articles 1 through 8 of Chapter 4, Title 41, establishing the Department of Administration with an effective date of July 1, 1973. ADOA succeeded to the powers and duties of the Department of Library and Archives, the Department of Public Buildings Maintenance, the Department of Finance, the State Personnel Commission, the Surplus Property Agency, the Board of History and Archives, and the Historical Advisory Commission. ADOA was originally organized into the following divisions: Data Processing; Finance; Library, Archives and Public Records; Personnel Administration; Public Buildings Maintenance; and Surplus Property.

Laws 1974, Chapter 200 converted the Arizona Department of Weights and Measures (DWM) to a division within the ADOA and transferred records, funds, and personnel from the DWM to ADOA. (Note: See histories of the Department of Weights and Measures and the Department of Agriculture, elsewhere in the collection of State Agency Histories.)

Laws 1976, Chapter 104 removed the division of Library, Archives, and Public Records from ADOA and transferred related records, funds, and personnel. The law established the Arizona Department of Library, Archives and Public Records within the Legislative branch. (Note: see history of the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.)

Laws 1982, Chapter 262, authorized the continuation of ADOA for ten years and included a legislative intent clause stating the “objectives of the department of administration are to oversee in a responsible, efficient, and effective manner state operations concerning automation, finance, personnel, public buildings, surplus property, weights and measures, and risk management.” Additionally, “Data Processing” was changed to “Automation” and the division of Risk Management was added.

Laws 1983, Chapter 98 was a lengthy measure that removed statutory references to specific ADOA divisions and instead gave the director authority to establish, abolish, or reorganize the positions or organizational units within the Department. In addition, the law transferred the authority to create personnel rules from the Personnel Board to the ADOA Director. That same year, Laws 1983, Chapter 316 required the ADOA Director to administer emergency telecommunication services and to recommend to the Joint Legislative Tax Committee the annual excise tax for the following year.

Laws 1987, Chapter 314, created the Department of Weights and Measures as a separate agency, thus removing the authority for weights and measures from ADOA. Note: See history for Department of Weights and Measures for information on that agency and subsequent transfer of responsibilities in 2015.

Laws 1996, Chapter 256, added A.R.S. §41-703 which specified the duties of the Director and modified existing provisions related to travel reduction plans; liability claims; collection of rental fees; and capital improvement plans.

Laws 1999, Chapter 300 was an omnibus bill that made numerous modifications to the functions and duties of the ADOA. Those changes related to alternative fuels, state vehicles, employee benefits, accounting and budgeting, the Governor’s Regulatory Review Commission five-year-review reports, the appeals process, an extension to finalize the proposed Agricultural monument in Wesley Bolin Plaza, prison sites, and changed the name of the State Personnel Commission to the Human Resources Division.

Laws 2008, Chapter 73 authorized the ADOA Director to administer and distribute monies from the Racing Investigation Fund, which are made according to instructions from the Director of the Arizona Department of Racing. Note: the Arizona Department of Racing was combined with the Arizona Department of Gaming in 2015. See related histories.

Laws 2012, Chapter 321, added Article 4, creating the State Personnel System, overseen by the State Personnel Board.

Laws 2017, Chapter 138 allowed an individual to petition the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council (GRRC) to review a final rule adopted by a state agency and determine if the rule complies with statutory rulemaking requirements. The measure also outlined the procedures GRRC must follow to make a determination. If GRRC determines the rule does not meet rulemaking requirements, the rule is void. Each agency and the Secretary of State must post a notice on their website of an individual’s right to petition GRRC.

Laws 2018, Chapter 279 repealed the Governmental Mall Commission and transferred its authority and responsibilities to ADOA. The measure also established the Capitol Mall Consolidation Fund and appropriated monies from the proceeds of the sale of specified state-owned properties to the Fund. The Joint Legislative Budget Committee must approve or deny contracts that would place a light rail station within the governmental mall.  See history of Governmental Mall Commission.

A second measure enacted in 2018 established a process to allow a person to petition GRRC to review an existing agency practice, substantive policy statement, final rule, or licensing requirement. After review, GRRC may modify, revise, or void any practice, policy statement, final rule, or licensing requirement. See Laws 2018, Chapter 337.

A third measure enacted in 2018 renamed Human Rights Committees as Independent Oversight Committees and transferred administration from other state agencies to ADOA. Originally created by Laws 2000, Chapter 261, the committees were established to provide independent oversight to protect the rights of persons with developmental disabilities; children, youth and families; and the mentally ill. In 2019 the Legislature adopted additional changes, requiring the ADOA Director to work with each independent oversight committee (IOC) to adopt policies regarding the authority and responsibility of each IOC and to post each IOC’s meeting agenda and annual report on the ADOA website. See Laws 2018, Chapter 257 and Laws 2019, Chapter 173. 

In 2018 and 2019, the Legislature enacted measures establishing regulatory sandbox programs in order to allow a person to test innovative products or services without having to obtain a license or authorization from the state that would otherwise be required. See Laws 2018, Chapter 44. In 2019, the Legislature enacted the Property Technology Sandbox Program and required the Chief Executive Officer of the Arizona Commerce Authority to establish the program in consultation with the Arizona Department of Administration, the Arizona Real Estate Department, and other state agencies. The measure outlines an application process, describes the scope of the program, outlines provisions relating to consumer protection and disclosure, and establishes record-keeping, reporting, monitoring, and enforcement requirements. The Property Technology Sandbox Program terminates on July 1, 2029. See Laws 2019, Chapter 9. The sandbox program was expanded in 2022 to include innovations and removed the current limitation which authorizes only financial products or services. See Laws 2022, Chapter 187.

Laws 2019, Chapter 160 requires the ADOA motor fleet to include ‘neighborhood electric vehicles’ and requires their use by state agencies unless circumstances related to speed limits and carrying capacity cannot be met by the electric vehicle.  In 2021, the authority, powers, duties, and responsibilities to operate the state motor fleet were transferred from ADOA to the Arizona Department of Transportation.  The measure provided for succession of obligations, personnel, and other related matters. See Laws 2021, Chapter 413.

Laws 2021, Chapter 404 transferred the School Facilities Board and related responsibilities to ADOA.  The SFB is restructured as a division within ADOA, is renamed the School Facilities Oversight Board, and is renumbered as A.R.S. §§41-5701 et seq. (See Sections 60 to 105).  Sections 115 and 116 of the measure outline succession of authority, powers, duties and responsibilities.

Laws 2021, Chapter 404 also requires ADOA to develop a school financial transparency portal that includes specified school-level data for charter schools, district schools, and individual schools operated by a school district.  ADOA may request assistance and information from the Department of Education, the State Board for Charter Schools and the Office of the Auditor General as needed. See Section 23 of the measure.

In addition, Laws 2021, Chapter 404 established the Public School Transportation Modernization Grants Program.  The measure authorizes ADOA to select an organization to administer the program, outlines the grant distribution process, and establishes reporting requirements.  At least 25 percent of the grants must be awarded to support rural and remote proposals.  See Section 111 of the measure.

Several measures enacted in 2022 modified ADOA responsibilities.

Laws 2022, Chapter 50 transferred the Statewide Information Security and Privacy Office from ADOA to the Department of Homeland Security.  ADOA retains the responsibility to develop a statewide disaster recovery plan, identify risks, and direct agencies to adopt mitigation strategies and procedures to minimize risk.  The Department is also required to manage enterprise-level information technology infrastructure and develop strategies to protect the data stored on or transmitted by the infrastructure. If directed by the Department of Homeland Security, ADOA is required to temporarily suspend access to the infrastructure.

Laws 2022, Chapter 149 authorizes placement of a Mormon migration monument in the Governmental Mall, subject to specific statutory requirements.

Laws 2022, Chapter 307 transfers responsibility for administration of the School Safety Interoperability Fund from the State Treasurer to ADOA, and expands distribution of funds to sheriffs and municipal police departments for school safety programs throughout the state. Prescribes eligibility criteria.  First established in 2019 under the Department of Public Safety as a pilot program limited to certain counties, it was transferred to the State Treasurer in 2021, expanded and transferred again in 2022.  See Laws 2019, Chapter 272 and Laws 2021, Chapter 403.

Laws 2022, Chapter 314 requires ADOA to establish a three-year competitive grant program for interoperability software technology solutions to support rural hospitals, healthcare providers, and urban trauma centers.  The measure includes deadlines, eligibility, and standards for grant awards.  The purpose is to allow hospitals and healthcare providers to facilitate more efficient healthcare transportation costs.  AHCCCS will work with ADOA to supplement grants by identifying and applying for federal matching monies.  The program ends July 1, 2026.  Annual reports are due by July 1.

Laws 2022, Chapter 315 authorizes ADOA to transfer title and fee ownership of the real property and improvements currently housing the Mining, Mineral and Natural Resources Educational Museum to the University of Arizona by October 24, 2022.

Laws 2023, Chapter 28 requires the ADOA Director to evaluate all state employee positions and identify: 1) positions that are suitable for applicants who have a postsecondary degree; and 2) positions that are suitable for applicants who do not have a bachelor’s degree or graduate degree, but do have skills developed through job training, community college, military service or an apprenticeship. The ADOA state jobs application portal is required to identify those positions that are suitable for applicants who are skilled through alternative routes. The Director is required to submit a report to the House, Senate, and Secretary of State by October 1, 2023.

A second measure enacted in 2023 expands trauma counseling benefits, currently available to certain public safety employees, to include 911 dispatchers who experience a traumatic event while on duty. See Laws 2023, Chapter 109.

Sources

  • Arizona Revised Statutes §§41-701 et seq.
  • Session Laws
    • Laws 1956, Chapter 6
    • Laws 1960, Chapter 97
    • Laws 1968, Chapter 200
    • Laws 1972, Chapter 141
    • Laws 1974, Chapter 200
    • Laws 1976, Chapter 104
    • Laws 1982, Chapter 262
    • Laws 1983, Chapter 98 and Chapter 316
    • Laws 1987, Chapter 314
    • Laws 1996, Chapter 256
    • Laws 1999, Chapter 300
    • Laws 2008, Chapter 73
    • Laws 2012, Chapter 321
    • Laws 2017, Chapter 138
    • Laws 2018, Chapter 44, Chapter 257, Chapter 279, and Chapter 337
    • Laws 2019, Chapter 9, Chapter 160, and Chapter 173
    • Laws 2021, Chapter 404 and Chapter 413
    • Laws 2022, Chapter 50, Chapter 149, Chapter 307, Chapter 314, and Chapter 315
    • Laws 2023, Chapter 28 and Chapter 109

 

Arizona Department of Administration website

Arizona Memory Project Arizona Department of Administration agency collection

Sunset review, Arizona Department of Administration, 2023

Governor McFarland Executive Order No. 55-N. July 27, 1955.

Related collections at Arizona State Archives

  • Record Group 8 – Department of Administration
  • Record Group 15 – State Auditor (precursor to Department of Finance)
  • Record Group 33 – Board of Curators
  • Record Group 62 – Board of Control (precursor to Public Buildings)
  • Record Group 71 – Personnel Commission
  • Record Group 83 – Surplus Property Purchasing Agency