Arizona attorney general: Vaccine mandate for Tucson city employees is illegal

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich (R) said that Tucson’s vaccine mandate for city employees is illegal. 

In a news release Tuesday, Brnovich’s office announced that the city of Tucson violated a state law approved this summer prohibiting local governments from implementing vaccine mandates for their employees. 

Tucson’s new legislation requires employees to be vaccinated or face a five-day suspension without pay, according to The Associated Press.

Many Democratic-led cities in the state have passed legislation that conflicts with the GOP’s policies on COVID-19. 

“Tucson’s vaccine mandate is illegal, and the city could be held liable for attempting to force employees to take it against their beliefs,” Brnovich said in the news release. “COVID-19 vaccinations should be a choice, not a government mandate.”

Our office determined today that Tucson’s vaccine mandate is illegal, and the city could be held liable for attempting to force employees to take it against their beliefs. COVID-19 vaccinations should be a choice, not a government mandate.

Details: https://t.co/VGxgsw9XYR

— Mark Brnovich (@GeneralBrnovich) September 7, 2021

Brnovich’s office has notified Tucson that its new law must be rescinded or amended, saying that the city could face liability claims from employees, according to the news release. 

This comes after a Pima County, Ariz., judge last month denied a request from the Tucson police union to stop the city’s vaccine mandate, the AP reported.