PERSONNEL REFORM: IT'S HE SAID, SHE SAID

posted by Michael Chihak

He said:

“You really need a wholesale and comprehensive reform of the system to eliminate those presumptions that are so easily manipulated by creative lawyering.”

She said:

“The system is not broken. We agree that there are some personnel rules that can be modified and improved upon, but the bill that we’re looking at and discussing today, HB2571, is overreaching. We feel it’s dangerous, and it’s reckless.”

He is Nick Dranias, a lawyer and head of the Center for Constitutional Government at the Goldwater Institute in Phoenix.

She is Sheri Van Horsen, president of Local 3111 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, also in Phoenix.

Both made the remarks in interview for Friday's Arizona Week broadcast on the issue of state personnel reform.

The legislation, HB2571, is one of Gov. Jan Brewer's "four cornerstones of reform" and thus, is getting lots of attention at the state Capitol.

It would toss out the current civil service system and replace it with an "at-will" system similar to the private sector. That would give state department heads the ability to hire, discipline and fire employees at their wills.

Currently, the civil service system provides appeal and due process avenues, including a ivil service review board that can approve, reject or modify disciplinary procedures, including firings, against state employees.

Watch Arizona Week at 8:30 p.m. on PBS-HD6 for an in-depth report.