PHOENIX (AP) - The Arizona House has approved a bill giving state police and other Department of Public Safety workers a $40 million raise over the next three years.
House Bill 2691 by Republican House Speaker Andy Tobin originally asked for $2.9 million for each of the next three years, but amendments to the bill have increased that amount significantly.
The bill now allocates $8.1 million in 2014, $13.3 million in 2015 and $18.8 million in 2016. That is $40.3 million total.
The House approved the bill on a 53-5 vote Wednesday and it now moves to the Senate.
Tobin says Arizona DPS officers are underpaid and the raises are necessary to retain officers.
Because the bill involves an appropriation not included in Gov. Jan Brewer’s budget proposal it will likely change.
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