MINUTES OF PUBLIC MEETING
FOR THE CORRECTIONS OFFICER RETIREMENT PLAN LOCAL BOARD
FOR THE JUDICIARY
A Public Meeting of the Corrections Officer Retirement Plan Local Board for the Judiciary was convened Tuesday, June 2, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., via Zoom, Arizona State Courts Building, 1501 West Washington Street, Phoenix, Arizona.
Board Members Present by Conference/Video Call: Jason Hathcock (Acting Chair); Jennifer Fish; Brandon Shimizu; Scott Mabery
Board Members Absent: Kevin Kluge (Chair)
Also Present by Conference/Video Call: Kayla Adkins, Board Secretary; Alexi Papalossi, Recorder; Leticia Chavez, AOC HR Supervisor; Yvonne Wong, AOC HR Officer; Ashley Harmon; Kristie Wooley
Call to Order:
Approval of Minutes:
May 5, 2026 – Public Meeting Minutes
MOTION: Scott Mabery moved to approve the public meeting minutes of the May 5, 2026, meeting. The motion was seconded by Jennifer Fish and passed unanimously. The minutes stand approved. CORP 2026-23
2026 Legislative Update
The Acting Chair asked the Board members if they had any questions regarding the updates on the 2026 Legislative Session, but no questions were raised. The Acting Chair then confirmed with the Board Secretary that the 2026 Legislative Session was still ongoing. The Acting Chair requested the Board Secretary to invite Mr. Moody to attend the meeting scheduled for July 7, 2026, to provide a final update if the session concludes before that date.
Notice of Retiree Returning to Work – Arlyn Harris
The Board received a Notice of Retiree Return to Work from the Maricopa County Judicial Branch for Arlyn Harris, indicating that Ms. Harris retired from the Maricopa County Judicial Branch on April 12, 2026, with an effective CORP retirement date of May 1, 2026. She had since accepted an employment offer with the Maricopa County Judicial Branch and returned to work on May 26, 2026, in a non-CORP-designated position as a Cognitive Behavioral Interventions Program Coordinator.
Copies of A.R.S. § 38- 884. N-O. and Ms. Harris’ current position description were provided to the Board.
Finding: Ms. Harris appears eligible to continue receiving a CORP pension because she returned to work in a non-CORP-designated position after retirement.
Discussion:
Mr. Mabery raised concerns about the termination and rehire dates being too close together. The Acting Chair explained that a member returning to the same employer in a CORP-designated position must wait at least 6 months before returning to work. He further noted that because Ms. Harris was returning to a non-CORP-designated position, this restriction didn’t apply to her.
The Acting Chair noted that item #6 on the PSPRS retiree return-to-work form states, “I did not have an implicit or explicit pre-existing agreement with the employer from which I retired, whether written or verbal, to return to work after my retirement.” This form was signed by the member. Ms. Fish informed the Board that she was familiar with this case because Ms. Harris had retired from her county of employment and was then rehired. Ms. Fish confirmed that no such agreement existed. She further explained that Ms. Harris had notified them of her intent to retire when she applied for the position. It was clearly communicated that they could not consider her for the position until she had submitted her retirement application. Ms. Fish clarified that an offer for the position was not made until after this filing.
MOTION: Brandon Shimizu moved that the Board received a Notice of Retiree Return to Work for Arlyn Harris and found that (1) Ms. Harris was eligible to continue receiving a CORP pension; (2) Ms. Harris’ employer, Maricopa County Judicial Branch, was not responsible for paying the CORP alternate contribution rate on her behalf because she returned to work in a non-CORP-designated position. The motion was seconded by Scott Mabery and passed unanimously. CORP 2026-24
Consideration of Member Request to Remain in CORP – Ashley Harmon
The Board received a request from Ashley Harmon to remain in CORP by having her position in the Administrative Office of the Courts designated as a CORP position during her employment in the position, pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-891. G.
Ms. Harmon accepted a position with the Administrative Office of the Courts on April 27, 2026. She provided a narrative explanation of her CORP service and a copy of her job description, which lists duties that appear to require direct contact with and primarily providing training or technical expertise to county probation officers. Her narrative also reports that she became a member of CORP on November 1, 2010, and the Board Secretary confirmed that she has 14.5 years of service credit in CORP.
The Board Secretary advised that: (1) The position that Ms. Harmon now holds in the Administrative Office of the Courts appears to require direct contact with and primarily provides training or technical expertise to county probation officers; (2) Ms. Harmon is a member of the plan who was employed in a designated position as a probation officer (specifically, as an Adult Probation Officer) at the time she accepted the position in the Administrative Office of the Courts; (3) Ms. Harmon has at least five years of credited service in the plan; and (4) Ms. Harmon made a written request to the Board within ninety days of accepting the position.
The Acting Chair confirmed that Ms. Harmon was in attendance and asked whether she would like to make a statement. Ms. Harmon expressed excitement about beginning to train probation officers statewide. She also stated that she appreciated being considered for retention in CORP. The Acting Chair then confirmed with Ms. Harmon that her position was responsible for pretrial services.
Mr. Mabery asked about a statute cited in the members’ narrative statement, which indicated that the request would be limited to a temporary fill or a temporary position. Ms. Fish clarified that Ms. Harmon cited the CORP summary of benefits, which is not a direct quote from the statute. Ms. Fish added that the narrative citation was from A.R.S. § 38-891. F, which pertained to the Arizona Department of Corrections. A.R.S. § 38-891. G pertains to CORP and doesn’t include the temporary verbiage.
Mr. Mabery also asked why the position Ms. Harmon was hired for was not a CORP-designated position. Ms. Fish stated that the position is not considered an officer under the statute because Ms. Harmon was no longer a sworn, badge-carrying officer.
MOTION: Jennifer Fish moved that the Board specify the position now held by Ashley Harmon in the Administrative Office of the Courts (Program Specialist VI [Pretrial, Reporting, Grants]) as a designated CORP position during the time that Ashley Harmon holds the position, as the Board finds that Ms. Harmon’s request meets all of the requirements of A.R.S. §38-891. G. Motion was seconded by Brandon Shimizu and passed unanimously. CORP 2026-25
Ms. Harmon and Kristie Wooley exited the meeting
Acknowledgment of CORP Physical Exam Final Letter:
Name
County
Letter Issue Date
Kendal Ybarra
Navajo
3/28/2026
The Acting Chair noted for the record that the CORP physical examination report for Kendal Ybarra was not received within 60 days of receiving their membership application and that a final letter requesting the examination report was sent via certified mail.
Approval of Membership:
The Board voted on the approval of the following requests for membership:
Effective Enrollment Date
Tier
Venant Bitonde
Maricopa
4/5/2026
3
Ana Gomez
5/3/2026
Bianca Salazar
Shannon Johnson
Lisset Escobar
2/2/2026
1/26/2026
Mariah Gipson
Pima
Georgeanna Adams
4/26/2026
Airam Ortiz Barnett
5/10/2026
Christina Trejo
Pinal
Kenneth Wilson
Melissa Noriega
5/18/2026
Kyndra McVey
Gabrielle McCabe
Yavapai
Olivia Tagaban
5/2/2026
Micah Allen
MOTION: Scott Mabery moved to approve the 16 applicants listed on the agenda for this meeting for membership in CORP pursuant to A.R.S. § 38-893. D. and to note for the record that the physical examinations for Bianca Salazar, Christina Trejo, Kenneth Wilson, Melissa Noriega, and Kyndra McVey identified a physical or mental condition or injury that existed or occurred before their dates of membership in the plan. The motion was seconded by Jennifer Fish and passed unanimously. CORP 2026-26
STARS Update
The Board Secretary informed the Board that Board Staff had attended the "PSPRS office hours" to address arising questions. However, Board Staff is still waiting for the necessary access to generate reports. The Secretary explained that these access issues have hindered the completion of the CORP member audit, but steps are being taken to resolve them.
Board Attorney Contract Update
The Board Secretary informed the Board that the contract was approved and was awaiting signature from Nick Cornelius, the Board Attorney. Once obtained, the contract will be forwarded to the Board Chair, Kevin Kluge, for final signature by or before the June 30, 2026, deadline and will be presented to the Board during the July 7, 2026, meeting.
The Acting Chair confirmed with the Board Secretary that the Board Attorney rate increased by ten dollars, and he reminded the Board that they had voted to continue the contract with Nick Cornelius during the March 3, 2026, CORP Local Board meeting.
Future Agenda Items:
The Board Secretary provided a quick update on the disability cases. She explained that case #25-01 will need direction from the Board. She then stated that MCN was having trouble finding an accessible doctor to perform the IMEs for both disability cases #26-01 and #26-02.
Call to the Public:
The meeting was adjourned at 10:28 a.m.
Transcribed June 5, 2026
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