A bill that provides protection for businesses and others against frivolous Covid-19 lawsuits was introduced by Arizona Senator Vince Leach (R-SaddleBrooke) on Monday. 

“What we’re trying to do is give targeted protection with some reasonable liability protection for businesses, educational providers, the healthcare industry, government agencies, religious institutions…,” Leach said. “We’re trying to give everyone the assurance that if they’re following sensible precautions against this terrible threat, this virus that we have, that they won’t see an onslaught of nuisance lawsuits.”

The bill, , provides protection from reckless litigation for businesses and others who act in “good faith” to protect their customers, clients and patients from Covid-19. 

Protection provided for in the bill would be temporary until Dec. 31, 2022. Under the legislation, a plaintiff would have to prove “clear and convincing evidence that a person or provider failed to act or acted with wilful misconduct or gross negligence” in order to win a civil suit, the proposed legislation states.

“The pandemic has really made businesses nervous as to what they have to do,” Leach said. “If they are taking reasonable precautions, they should have some targeted and limited protections.”

Responsible operators deserve protection 

Businesses and other organizations have proven that they take the virus seriously, Leach said. They have shifted their business models, put up plexiglass shields, purchased personal protection equipment for employees, and followed guidelines for sanitizing and social distancing from the Centers for Disease Control.

Unfortunately, some have shut their businesses down indefinitely, Leach said.   

“Some are shutting down just out of fear of runaway lawsuits, which we are trying to protect against,” he said. 

Thousands of businesses relying on state to act   

Leach and other state lawmakers started discussing a liability bill last session when the U.S. Congress failed to adopt protective legislation through the CARES Act. But Arizona lawmakers were unable to introduce their own bill last year when the legislative session was cut short due to the pandemic. 

Since then, Leach and other legislators have heard from hundreds of constituents calling for a state-sponsored protection bill. Stakeholders like the Arizona �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce & Industry worked with public groups and provided input to help put together a bill that was simple and straightforward, Leach said. 

More than 70 chambers of commerce and business organizations representing every industry and corner of the state issued a letter of support to lawmakers Monday for introducing the legislation. 

“While many of our member businesses have continued to operate throughout this pandemic and respond directly to the COVID-19 crisis, this period has also brought extraordinary legal uncertainty,” the letter states.

Passage of the SB 1377 would provide some reassurance that organizations will not be hit with “meritless civil litigation that is otherwise certain to derail our economic recovery,” it states and urges lawmakers to pass the bill.. 

Almost half of states now have covid liability protection laws 

Currently, about 21 states and Washington, D.C. have passed some form of Covid liability protection. 

Now, in Arizona, the bill must make its way through a host of committees in both houses and be approved on the House and Senate floors.

“I really want to thank the stakeholders that played a huge portion in this project and product,” Leach said. “Maybe we’ll get out of here with a 30-0 in the Senate and 60-0 in the House.” 

To read the bill’s full text, go to: .

Organizations supporting the bill 

More than 70 chambers of commerce, business advocacy groups, trade organizations and others signed the letter of support:

Alliance of Arizona Nonprofits 

American Property Casualty Insurance Association  

Apache Junction �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce 

Arizona Association of Community Managers 

Arizona Association of Health Plans 

Arizona Association of Providers for People with Disabilities  

Arizona Automotive Wholesalers Association

Arizona Bankers Association 

Arizona �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce & Industry

Arizona Charter Schools Association 

Arizona Dental Association  

Arizona Farm Bureau Federation 

Arizona Health Care Association  

Arizona Hispanic �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce

Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association  

Arizona Leading Age 

Arizona Licensed Beverage Association

Arizona Lodging and Tourism Association

Arizona Manufacturers Council

Arizona Medical Association  

Arizona Mining Association  

Arizona Multihousing Association

Arizona Optometric Association

Arizona Osteopathic Medical Association

Arizona Realtors  

Arizona Restaurant Association

Arizona Retailers Association 

Arizona Rock Products Association

Arizona Small Business Association

Arizona State Association of Physicians Assistants 

Arizona Technology Council

Arizona Trucking Association 

Associated General Contractors of America Arizona Chapter 

Buckeye �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce 

Carefree Cave Creek �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce 

Chandler �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce 

East Valley �鶹��ýӳ��s of Commerce Alliance

Fountain Hills �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce

Gilbert �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce 

Glendale �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce 

Greater Flagstaff �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce

Greater Florence �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce

Greater Oro Valley �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce

Greater Phoenix �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce

Greater Phoenix Economic Council

Greater Phoenix Leadership 

Green Valley Sahuarita �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce  & Visitor Center 

Health System Alliance of Arizona 

Home Builders Association of Central Arizona

InvisionAZ 

Lake Havasu Area �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce

Marana �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce 

Mesa �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce 

National Association of Industrial Office Properties Arizona Chapter

National Federation of Independent Business   

Page Lake Powell �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce

Peoria �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce 

Prescott Valley �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce

Queen Creek �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce

Scottsdale �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce 

Southern Arizona Home Builders Association

Southern Arizona Leadership Council

Southwest Valley �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce

Southwest Veteran’s �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce

Surprise Regional �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce

Tempe �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce 

Tucson Metro �鶹��ýӳ�� 

United Dairymen of Arizona 

Valley Partnership 

West Valley �鶹��ýӳ��s of Commerce Alliance

Wickenburg �鶹��ýӳ�� of Commerce

Yavapai County Contractors Association

The post Arizona state senator introduces bill to protect businesses, health care workers, organizations from frivolous Covid-19 lawsuits appeared first on �鶹��ýӳ��.