In this episode of the Better Together Arizona podcast, ONE Community President & Co-Founder Angela Hughey is joined by Executive Director of the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, Tom Collins. Angela and Tom discuss AZ Prop 311, a ballot measure that would introduce a $250,000 death benefit for families of first responders. 

Proposition 311 was put on the ballot by the legislature and it will create a new death benefit that will go to the spouse or child of a first responder killed in the line of duty. This measure will be funded through a new $20 fee billed to people who receive a criminal conviction. Prop 311 also increases the penalty for aggravated assault against a first responder. Additionally, if the money raised by these new fees is above $2M, the legislature can elect to divert some of those funds to police training or provide additional benefits to first responders.

✅ Arguments for Prop 311: First responders and police face increased physical attacks and local communities are facing staffing shortages because it, which in turn, makes their job more difficult. This law signals to first responders that voters support them. 

❌ Arguments against Prop 311: If there is a death benefit, the legislature should commit state tax dollars rather than create a new fee. The new fee does not go entirely to supporting first responders and allows too much discretion to the legislature to use excess fees.