Arizona Revised Statutes Title 38. Public Officers and Employees § 38-893.01. Voluntary local board consolidation; membership; duties

A. A local board may enter into an intergovernmental agreement with other local boards to consolidate the boards for the respective employers.

B. The consolidated local board shall work with the board of trustees to ensure that the new board is duly empaneled consistent with the representation outlined in § 38-893, subsection A and that all appointments or elections for local board members are completed in a timely manner. The consolidated local board shall submit to the board of trustees the names of the members of the consolidated local board and the consolidated local board's secretary and independent legal counsel and shall submit any changes to those positions within ten days after the change.

C. The consolidated local board shall decide eligibility for membership and disability and in the line of duty death benefits and have all of the duties and responsibilities of a local board pursuant to this article.

D. Within one hundred eighty days after appointment or election, all consolidated local board members and the local board's secretary shall complete local board training as prescribed by the board of trustees, including open meeting laws, ethics, legal review and fiduciary responsibilities and duties. The local board's independent legal counsel shall review the model uniform rules for local board procedure that are issued by the board of trustees.

E. The local board's independent legal counsel may not be employed by or contracted with the employer or any employee organizations. The independent legal counsel may not represent a member of the plan before any local board or any judicial appeal of a local board decision.