REFERENCE TITLE: repeal; right to work; liability

State of Arizona

House of Representatives

Fifty-sixth Legislature

Second Regular Session

2024

HB 2291

Introduced by

Representatives De Los Santos: Contreras P

An Act

repealing section 23-1302, Arizona Revised Statutes; amending sections 23-1306 and 23-1501, Arizona Revised Statutes; relating to the right to work.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Heading change

The article heading of title 23, chapter 8, article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, is changed from "RIGHT TO WORK" to "GENERAL PROVISIONS".

Sec. 2. Repeal

Section 23-1302, Arizona Revised Statutes, is repealed.

Sec. 3. Section 23-1306, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE23-1306. Civil liability of person violating article

A person who violates any provision of this article,  or who enters into an agreement containing a provision declared illegal by this article, or who brings about the discharge of or denial of employment to any person because of nonmembership in a labor organization shall be liable to the person injured as the result of such act or provision and may be sued therefor for such act or provision, and in such action any labor organization, subdivision or local thereof shall be bound by the acts of its duly authorized agents acting within the scope of their authority, and may sue or be sued in its common name. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Section 23-1501, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE23-1501. Severability of employment relationships; protection from retaliatory discharges; exclusivity of statutory remedies in employment

A. The public policy of this state is that:

1. The employment relationship is contractual in nature.

2. The employment relationship is severable at the pleasure of either the employee or the employer unless both the employee and the employer have signed a written contract to the contrary setting forth that the employment relationship shall remain in effect for a specified duration of time or otherwise expressly restricting the right of either party to terminate the employment relationship. Both the employee and the employer must sign this written contract, or this written contract must be set forth in the employment handbook or manual or any similar document distributed to the employee, if that document expresses the intent that it is a contract of employment, or this written contract must be set forth in a writing signed by the party to be charged. Partial performance of employment shall not be deemed sufficient to eliminate the requirements set forth in this paragraph. Nothing in This paragraph shall be construed to does not affect the rights of public employees under the Constitution of Arizona and state and local laws of this state or the rights of employees and employers as defined by a collective bargaining agreement.

3. An employee has a claim against an employer for termination of employment only if one or more of the following circumstances have occurred:

(a) The employer has terminated the employment relationship of an employee in breach of an employment contract, as set forth in paragraph 2 of this subsection, in which case the remedies for the breach are limited to the remedies for a breach of contract.

(b) The employer has terminated the employment relationship of an employee in violation of a statute of this state. If the statute provides a remedy to an employee for a violation of the statute, the remedies provided to an employee for a violation of the statute are the exclusive remedies for the violation of the statute or the public policy set forth in or arising out of the statute, including the following:

(i) The civil rights act prescribed in title 41, chapter 9.

(ii) The occupational safety and health act prescribed in chapter 2, article 10 of this title.

(iii) The statutes governing the hours of employment prescribed in chapter 2 of this title.

(iv) The agricultural employment relations act prescribed in chapter 8, article 5 of this title.

(v) The statutes governing disclosure of information by public employees prescribed in title 38, chapter 3, article 9.

All definitions and restrictions contained in the statute also apply to any civil action based on a violation of the public policy arising out of the statute. If the statute does not provide a remedy to an employee for the violation of the statute, the employee shall have the right to bring a tort claim for wrongful termination in violation of the public policy set forth in the statute.

(c) The employer has terminated the employment relationship of an employee in retaliation for any of the following:

(i) The refusal by the employee to commit an act or omission that would violate the Constitution of Arizona or the statutes of this state.

(ii) The disclosure by the employee in a reasonable manner that the employee has information or a reasonable belief that the employer, or an employee of the employer, has violated, is violating or will violate the Constitution of Arizona or the statutes of this state to either the employer or a representative of the employer who the employee reasonably believes is in a managerial or supervisory position and has the authority to investigate the information provided by the employee and to take action to prevent further violations of the Constitution of Arizona or statutes of this state or an employee of a public body or political subdivision of this state or any agency of a public body or political subdivision.

(iii) The exercise of rights under the workers' compensation statutes prescribed in chapter 6 of this title.

(iv) Service on a jury as protected by section 21-236.

(v) The exercise of voting rights as protected by section 16-1012.

(vi) The exercise of free choice with respect to nonmembership in a labor organization as protected by section 23-1302.

(vii) (vi) Service in the national guard or armed forces as protected by sections 26-167 and 26-168.

(viii) (vii) The exercise of the right to be free from the extortion of fees or gratuities as a condition of employment as protected by section 23-202.

(ix) (viii) The exercise of the right to be free from coercion to purchase goods or supplies from any particular person as a condition of employment as protected by section 23-203.

(x) (ix) The exercise of a victim's right to leave work as provided in sections 8-420 and 13-4439.

B. If the statute provides a remedy to an employee for a violation of the statute, the remedies provided to an employee for a violation of the statute are the exclusive remedies for the violation of the statute or the public policy prescribed in or arising out of the statute. END_STATUTE

Sec. 5. Conditional enactment

This act does not become effective unless the Constitution of Arizona is amended by a vote of the people at the next general election by passage of House Concurrent Resolution ____, fifty-sixth legislature, second regular session, relating to the right to work.