SB 1407
Initials AG/KT Page 1 Caucus & COW
ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Fifty-sixth Legislature
Second Regular Session
Senate: HHS DP 4-3-0-0 | 3rd Read 16-12-2-0
House: HHS DP 5-3-0-2
SB 1407: employers; vaccines; religious exemption
Sponsor: Senator Shamp, LD 29
Caucus & COW
Overview
Requires employers to provide reasonable accommodations to an employee that requests a
religious exemption from taking an influenza A or B, flu or U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) emergency use authorized vaccine and provides a vaccine exemption
form.
History
Currently, if an employer receives notice from an employee that their sincerely held religious
beliefs, practices or observances prevent the employee from taking the COVID -19
vaccination, the employer must provide a reasonable accommodation unl ess the
accommodation poses an undue hardship and more than a de minimus cost to the operation
of the employer's business (A.R.S. § 23-206).
Provisions
1. Requires an employer to provide a reasonable accommodation, unless it poses an undue
hardship, to an employee that provides notice to the employer that due to their sincerely
held religious beliefs, practices or observances prevents them from taking the influenza
A or B vaccine, flu vaccine or any FDA emergency use authorized vaccine. (Sec. 1)
2. Removes the exception that allows an employer to not provide an accommodation if it
poses more than a de minimus cost to the operation of the employer's business. (Sec. 1)
3. Forbids an employer from inquiring into the veracity of an employee's religious beliefs,
practices or observances beyond what is allowed under federal law and discriminating
against an employee regarding employment, wages or benefits based on the employee's
vaccination status. (Sec. 1)
4. Requires an employer to allow an employee to request a religious exemption from the
COVID-19, influenza A or B, flu or FDA emergency use authorized vaccinations through
a religious exemption form that meets certain minimum requirements. (Sec. 1)
5. Asserts that any employer that receives a request for a religious exemption must keep
the request and its contents confidential and is prohibited from sharing them within the
organization unless it is necessary to process the request for exemption, accommodation
or other operational necessity. (Sec. 1)
6. Permits employers to create a database of religious exemption requests for internal use
only unless otherwise required by law. (Sec. 1)
7. Defines terms. (Sec. 1) SB 1407
Initials AG/KT Page 2 Caucus & COW
8. Makes a conforming change. (Sec. 1)
☐ Prop 105 (45 votes) ☐ Prop 108 (40 votes) ☐ Emergency (40 votes) ☐ Fiscal Note