appropriation; DPS; pay increase

Plain English Breakdown

The official bill text specifies 'fiscal year 2026-2027' rather than just '2027', so the summary was adjusted for accuracy.

HB2602: Pay Increase for Arizona Department of Public Safety

This bill sets aside $24,500,000 from the state general fund to give a 10% pay increase to all employees of the Department of Public Safety in fiscal year 2026-2027.

What This Bill Does

• Sets aside $24,500,000 from the state general fund.
• Sends this money to the Department of Public Safety (DPS).
• Provides a 10% pay increase for all DPS employees in fiscal year 2026-2027.

Who It Names or Affects

• All employees of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
• The state general fund, which provides the money for this bill.

Terms To Know

Appropriation

An official act that sets aside a specific amount of government money to be spent on a certain purpose.

State General Fund

The main account where the state keeps most of its tax revenue and other income before spending it.

Limits and Unknowns

• The official text does not specify an exact effective date, only that the appropriation is for fiscal year 2026-2027.
• The bill summary notes DPS had specific employee numbers as of July 1, 2025, but does not confirm if these numbers will change before the pay increase takes effect.

Official Summary Text

HB2602 - 572R - House Bill Summary

ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

57th
Legislature, 2nd Regular Session

Majority Research Staff

House:
PSLE DP 10-2-3-0

HB
2602
: appropriation; DPS; pay increase

Sponsor:
Representative Blackman, LD 7

Caucus
& COW

Overview

Appropriates
$24,500,000 from the state general fund (GF) to the Department of Public Safety
(DPS) to increase pay for all employees.

History

Established in 1969, DPS is the state's law enforcement
agency tasked with creating and coordinating services for use by local law
enforcement agencies in protecting the public safety. DPS is tasked with: �1)
enforcing laws on Arizona state highways and in narcotics, organized crime,
liquor and specific regulatory functions; 2) providing operational assistance
to local and state agencies within the criminal justice community; and 3)
establishing modern services for prevention of crime, apprehension of violators
and the training of law enforcement personnel (A.R.S. ��
41-1711
;
41-1712
;

Arizona DPS
).�

The Director of DPS (Director) is appointed by the governor
and serves concurrently with the appointing governor. The Director administers DPS
and is responsible for specified duties such as establishing personnel and
resource allocation priorities and developing the rules and procedures necessary
for the operation of DPS and its divisions. (A.R.S. ��
41-1711
;
41-1713
).

DPS operates out of its headquarters in Phoenix and its local
offices throughout Arizona's 15 counties. As of July 1, 2025, DPS had 1,923
full-time employees, of which 1,062 were sworn and 861 were professional staff
(
2025 DPS Personnel
& Recommendation Report
).

Provisions

1.

Appropriates
$24,500,000 from the state GF to DPS for a 10% pay increase for all employees
in FY 2027 (Sec. 1)

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2602

1/27/2026������� Page
0 Caucus & COW

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Current Bill Text

HB2602 - 572R - I Ver

REFERENCE TITLE:
appropriation; DPS; pay increase

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

HB 2602

Introduced by

Representative
Blackman

AN
ACT

Appropriating monies to the department of
public safety.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1.
Appropriation;
department of public safety; pay increase

The sum of $24,500,000 is appropriated
from the state general fund in fiscal year 2026-2027 to the department of
public safety for a ten percent pay increase for all department employees.