Assigned to COM FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR H.B. 2679
employment discrimination; sexual harassment; definition
Purpose
Modifies the definition of employer for the purposes of statutes governing employment
discrimination.
Background
The Civil Rights Division of the Arizona Attorney General’s Office is authorized to enforce
Arizona civil rights statutes, including discrimination in employment, voting, public
accommodations, disability and housing, by investigating and litigating complaints (A.R.S.
§ 41-1403). It is an unlawful employment practice for an employer to discriminate against an
employee who has opposed any unlawful employment practice relating to employment
discrimination or has made a charge, testified, assisted or participated in any manner in an
investigation, proceeding or hearing arising from employment discrimination (A.R.S. § 41-1464).
Under employment discrimination statutes, employer means: 1) a person who has 15 or
more employees for each working day in each of 20 or more calendar weeks in the current or
preceding calendar year, and any agent of that person; or 2) a person who has one or more
employees in the current or preceding calendar year, to the extent that any person is alleged to
have committed any act of sexual harassment, for purposes of administrative and civil actions
regarding the sexual harassment allegations (A.R.S. § 41-1461).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Includes, in the definition of employer under employment discrimination statutes, a person
who has one or more employees, in the current or preceding calendar year, to the extent that
the person is alleged to have discriminated against anyone for opposing sexual harassment or
making a charge, testifying, assisting or participating in any manner in an investigation,
proceeding or hearing arising from sexual harassment.
2. Makes technical and conforming changes.
3. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
House Action
COM 2/15/22 DP 10-0-0-0
3
rd
Read 2/23/22 50-9-1
Prepared by Senate Research
March 14, 2022
JT/sr