What happened?

Although not a law yet, bill SB 1407 has crossed over to the House for consideration and is expected to move forward in the legislative process.

What are the details?

The bill allows a religious exemption for any vaccine (for emergency use only), and:

• Prohibits discrimination against an employee regarding employment, wages or benefits based on the employee’s vaccination status, and the veracity of the employee’s religious beliefs, practices, or observances.
• Keep the request notice confidential and share it only and to the necessary extent to process the request.
• If the employee objects from taking any vaccine (the bill specifically names COVID-19, Influenza A or B and Flu Vaccines), employer shall provide accommodation.
• The employer will provide accommodation unless the accommodation would pose an undue hardship.
• The bill includes a sample form, which contains the minimum requirements of the notice that the employee must provide to the employer.
• Employers can create an internal database of religious accommodations for internal use only (unless otherwise required by law).

Business Considerations

• Visit the bill’s official page below to track its progress. If the House completes their Third Reading, which will then move forward to the Governor’s desk, review and update your accommodation policies and procedures to ensure you are prepared to comply with the new regulations.
• If the bill becomes law, create a template notice that you can be prepared to use in the event an accommodation applicable to the law is needed. To understand what content and structure you will need to have, you can incorporate the form sample included within the bill.

Resources

• SB 1407
• Emergency Use Authorization for Vaccines Explained (U.S. Food & Drug Administration)
• Senate Fact Sheet

Source References

• Arizona lawmakers consider religious exemption for vaccines (The Associated Press.) 

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