Arizona’s new House Bill (HB) 2311, which will become effective Aug. 3, 2018, aims to create a blanket limitation on liability for employers that hire an employee or contract with an independent contractor “who has previously been convicted of a criminal offense” – not to include “violent offenses and sexual offenses.” It also creates an additional layer of protection against negligent hiring actions by prohibiting claimants from introducing “the fact that the employee or independent contractor was previously convicted of a criminal offense before the employee’s employment or independent contractor’s contractual obligation began with the employer” into evidence. The HB also addresses negligent supervision claims. In addition, Senate Bill 1398 made a number of changes to the state’s unemployment compensation laws and HB 2047 expands mandatory workers’ compensation coverage to all working members of limited liability companies with less than 50 percent membership interest in the LLC, as well as to working shareholders who own less than 50 percent of beneficial interest.

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