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Despite concerns, firings haven’t increased since 2012 personnel reform
A massive personnel reform package pushed through the Legislature by Brewer in 2012 dramatically shifted the balance of power between the state and its employees. The law made most new employees at-large, or “uncovered,” and required covered employees to give up their merit protection in order to receive promotions or raises. Covered employees were offered bonuses to entice them to switch to u[...]
State of Arizona seeks to get back $4.2 million from scheme
Prosecutors are seeking the forfeiture of $4.2 million in cash, real estate and other property seized in an investigation of a former state employee charged with stealing millions of dollars from Arizona's health care program for the poor.
Agencies defend Native American children adoption law
State and federal agencies are asking a judge to throw out legal claims by several Arizonans that a 37-year old federal law harms and illegally discriminates against Native American children.
Some contractors lament end of ROC advisory council meetings
A decades-old advisory council that allows contractors from all over the state to hash out issues with the agency that regulates them has been put on hiatus, much to the chagrin of some of its members.
McKay defends his approach, says DCS problems created by past administrations
Officials at the Department of Child Safety know the beleaguered agency has problems, but Director Greg McKay says previous administrations are to blame.
Hundreds of millions of dollars later, child safety programs plagued by the same problems
A decade ago, a team of auditors embedded themselves in the agency charged with protecting Arizona’s children and found that some reports of child abuse or neglect weren’t properly investigated. Other cases lacked the relevant information necessary to ensure children’s safety. Ten years, hundreds of millions of dollars and a new agency later, the problems that plague the Department of Child [...]
Child Safety director says goal of reducing backlog “not attainable,” money “not well spent”
One year and $29 million later, Arizona’s child welfare agency is no closer to eliminating a sizeable backlog of stagnant child safety cases, a goal the agency’s director now says was unattainable.
Corporation Commissioners come out swinging in election controversy
A dispute between energy regulators over the role that corporations play in their election is threatening to escalate into a full blown controversy, with one commissioner threatening to subpoena the records of Arizona Public Service as a way of testing the authority of the agency in charge of regulating utilities.
Government agencies should stick to their core missions
There has been a disturbing trend lately of government officials – elected and appointed – straying so far beyond their agencies’ mandate that they’re encroaching on Arizonans’ constitutionally protected right to free speech.
Revenues exceed forecasts by $322M, but state leaders reluctant to call it a surplus
Six straight months of revenues exceeding projections has some lawmakers hoping to reverse the impact of Gov. Doug Ducey’s budget cuts, but the Governor’s Office has signaled that agency heads and legislators shouldn’t get their hopes up.
AG’s office bolsters communications staff
The Attorney General’s Office has beefed up its communications unit with two new hires this month.
Ducey’s primer: Arizona agency transition documents
In the weeks following Doug Ducey's 2014 gubernatorial win, state agencies, departments and commissions prepared a report to provide a snapshot of the organization, from the perspective of its top staff, intended to inform an incoming governor.
