Assigned to COM FOR COMMITTEE
ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Fifty-Fifth Legislature, Second Regular Session
FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1053
religious exemption; vaccine; violation; classification
Purpose
Subjects, to a class 2 misdemeanor, a person who knowingly violates the statutory
requirement on an employer to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee who notifies
the employer of sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances that prevent the employee
from taking the COVID-19 vaccination.
Background
Statute requires an employer to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee who
notifies the employer of sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances that prevent the
employee from taking the COVID-19 vaccine, unless the accommodation would pose an undue
hardship and more than a minimal cost to the operation of the employer's business (A.R.S.
ยง 23-206).
There is no anticipated fiscal impact to the state General Fund associated with this
legislation.
Provisions
1. Subjects, to a class 2 misdemeanor, a person who knowingly violates the statutory requirement
on an employer to provide a reasonable accommodation to an employee who notifies the
employer of sincerely held religious beliefs, practices or observances that prevent the employee
from taking the COVID-19 vaccination.
2. Becomes effective on the general effective date.
Prepared by Senate Research
February 14, 2022
JT/CY/sr