AZ SB1603

Employers with employees must provide up to 12 weeks of paid family leave per year for any reason covered under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, for employees employed at least 12 months.

Employees may request family leave orally, in writing, or by electronic means, with good faith notice required when the need is foreseeable; employers cannot require employees to find replacement workers as a condition of taking leave.

Employers must reinstate employees to their original position after family leave, or to a comparable position for small employers with 10 or fewer employees.

Employers must provide written notice to employees at hire or by July 1, 2021 regarding family leave entitlements, usage terms, anti-retaliation protections, and complaint procedures; violations result in civil penalties of at least $250 for first offense and $1,000 for subsequent violations.

Employees may file complaints with the Industrial Commission or bring civil actions within three years for violations; courts may award unpaid leave value, actual damages, treble damages up to three times actual damages, attorney fees, and other relief including reinstatement.