§ 1.1.9.4 STATE "PERSONNEL REFORM" BILL MAKES MOST STATE EMPLOYEES AT-WILL.

• Jurisdiction: Arizona

§ 1.1.9.4 State "Personnel Reform" Bill Makes Most State Employees At-Will. Governor Jan Brewer worked with the legislature in 2012 to eliminate merit-system protections for numerous state employees, limit the power of the personnel boards to modify or overrule decisions of state agency directors or boards, and provide for state agency directors or boards to reject findings and decisions of merit-system boards in regard to disciplinary actions.²¹² The Act states that, among other things, its purpose is for all state agencies in the State Personnel System²¹³ to recruit, select, advance, and compensate employees according to the employee's ability, knowledge, skills, merit, and job performance. Neither seniority nor tenure will protect a state employee from adverse personnel actions.

This sweeping legislation makes almost all state employees uncovered, at-will employees. No longer must an agency have cause to...