Assigned to GOV                                                                                                                        FOR COMMITTEE

 

 


 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1092

 

ombudsman-citizens aide; reappointment

 

Purpose

 

            Reappoints Patrick M. Shannahan as Ombudsman-Citizens Aide, term ending June 30, 2006. Contains an emergency clause.

 

Background

 

            The Office of the Ombudsman-Citizens’ Aide was established on July 1, 1996 as an independent agency of the Arizona Legislature.  The Office’s mission is to “improve the effectiveness, efficiency and responsiveness of state government by receiving public complaints, investigating the administrative acts of state agencies and, when warranted, recommending fair and appropriate remedy.”

           

            The Ombudsman-Citizens’ Aide Office went through a sunset review in 1999 and was continued through June 2006 . Mr. Shannahan was first appointed for a five-year term as Ombudsman-Citizens Aide on July 1, 1996. A former military officer, he served in the United States Army from 1970 until 1995 and retired as a Colonel.  During this time he was a project manager and formulated national security policy for the Joints Chief of Staff. He also served as staff director, Chief Operating Director and Associate Professor in the Army. He has been a member of the United States Ombudsman Association Board of Directors since 1997.  Mr. Shannahan has completed the mediation training program through the Attorney General’s office and investigator training through the Council on Licensure, Enforcement and Regulation.  He receives a salary of $82,784 per year.

 

            The fiscal impact of this legislation is unknown.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Reappoints Patrick M. Shannahan as an Arizona Ombudsman-Citizens Aide until his term ends on June 30, 2006.

 

2.      Requires approval of two-thirds of the membership of each house of the Legislature and the signature of the Governor.  If the Governor vetoes this act, approval of three-fourths of each house of the Legislature is needed.

 

3.      Contains an emergency clause.

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

January 16, 2001