Committee gives SB1493 a do‑pass recommendation after amendment; bill would shift some attorney fees to employers when terminations are overturned

The House Public Safety Committee adopted an amendment and returned SB1493 with a do‑pass recommendation. SB1493 would require an employer to pay reasonable attorney fees and taxable costs when a law‑enforcement officer prevails in appeals and superior court determines the termination was wrongful.

Adele explained the bill and the chairman’s amendment, which clarified that the employer would be required to pay reasonable attorney and expert fees only if both the hearing officer (or administrative appeals board) and the superior court determined the termination was wrongful; the amendment also clarified that fees associated with the administrative appeal could be covered if the superior court later validated the finding.

Joe Cler (Arizona Police Association) and Don Isaacson (Fraternal Order of Police) supported the bill as a fairness measure to make officers whole when an employer ignores a hearing‑officer’s decision and the officer must litigate in superior court. Paul Sheldon, president of the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police, said the bill fills a “hole” in practice where officers who win in administrative hearings may still be terminated and forced to seek relief in superior court, incurring large legal costs.

Members asked whether the bill should provide other remedies (expungement or lost‑wage recovery); witnesses said the statute would allow the court to award additional relief if warranted but that those remedies are rare. After adopting the chairman’s amendment by voice vote, the committee returned SB1493, as amended, with a do‑pass recommendation; the final corrected count was announced as 8 ayes, 2 present, 1 absent.