Arizona 2023 Regular Session

Arizona Senate Bill SB1619

Caption

Employment relationships; remedies

Impact

The bill delineates specific circumstances under which an employee may bring forth a claim against an employer for wrongful termination. This includes instances where an employment contract has been breached or terminated in violation of specific state statutes. If any statute provides a defined remedy, it is designated as the exclusive right for the employee, limiting the avenues for civil litigation. Consequently, this could streamline legal proceedings for employment disputes but may also constrain employee rights in certain contexts.

Summary

SB1619, titled 'Employment Relationships; Remedies', seeks to amend section 23-1501 of the Arizona Revised Statutes. The bill establishes that the employment relationship is fundamentally contractual and can be terminated at the discretion of either the employee or employer, unless a written contract specifies otherwise. This provision emphasizes the significance of formal agreements in employment relationships, underlining that partial performance does not negate the need for a written contract. It also protects public employees' rights as defined by local and federal laws.

Contention

A notable point of contention surrounding SB1619 is its effect on employee protections against retaliatory discharges. The bill allows claims for wrongful termination to be brought under a variety of protections, such as refusal to engage in unlawful acts or protections under workers' compensation laws. Critics of the bill may argue that by restricting claims only to those defined by the statute, employees may lose out on broader protections that existed under common law, leading to fewer avenues for recourse in cases of unjust termination.

Companion Bills

No companion bills found.

Previously Filed As

AZ SB1708

Employment relationships; remedies

AZ SB1547

Repeal; right to work

AZ HB2291

Repeal; right to work; liability

AZ SB1377

Employment; housing; public accommodations; antidiscrimination

AZ HB2775

Franchises; relationships; definitions

AZ SB1587

Right to jury; parent-child relationship

AZ SB1135

Military and surveillance equipment; approval

AZ SB1722

Community colleges; employment contracts; duration

AZ SB1321

Charter schools; financial records

AZ HB2268

Landlord; tenant; fee disclosure; waiver

Similar Bills

AZ SB1664

Employment relationships; remedies

AZ SB1708

Employment relationships; remedies

AZ SB1420

Repeal; right to work

AZ SB1479

Repeal; right to work

AZ SB1547

Repeal; right to work

AZ HB2631

Repeal; right to work; liability

AZ HB2110

Repeal; right to work; liability

AZ HB2501

Repeal; right to work; liability