An Arizona bill that could leave many employees of religious schools and daycares ineligible for unemployment benefits is on the verge of becoming law.
According to the Associated Press, “[Arizona] House Bill 2645 would allow religious organizations to avoid paying unemployment taxes for educational and day care workers. … Proponents argue that the proposed law is necessary after some state tax officials recently started interpreting the current religious exemption so that it only applies to church staff and not private school teachers.”
The debate over unemployment benefits for religious employees arose last year, after the state’s Department of Economic Security decided that religious “schools and child care centers did not qualify under the [existing] exemption because their mission statements were to provide general education or adult supervision.” Supporters of the bill say it is a return to the previous status quo, not a stripping away of benefits from employees.
The Arizona Daily Star reports that Wednesday’s vote in the Senate was a voice vote, but if the bill is approved after an upcoming roll-call vote, the bill will be passed on to the governor.
CT previously has reported on the topics of church finances and unemployment, including the loss of tax breaks for ministry leaders in Canada.
