public records; hiring process documents

Plain English Breakdown

The candidate explanation aligns well with the official source material, but there were no specific claims removed. The notes highlight areas where additional details or clarification would be beneficial for understanding the full scope of the bill's impact and compliance requirements.

Public Records; Hiring Process Documents

This bill changes Arizona law to limit the disclosure of documents related to an employment candidate's hiring process, except for certain information about the selected candidate.

What This Bill Does

• Adds a new section (39-130) to Arizona Revised Statutes that limits when hiring process documents can be disclosed as public records.
• Defines 'candidate' as someone who applies for employment with a public body, but excludes senior level officials or officers from this definition.
• Specifies that after the hiring process is complete, only the selected candidate's name, job title, and salary may be released according to public record laws.
• Includes in its definitions various types of documents like resumes, applications, reference letters, background check reports, etc., as part of the hiring process.

Who It Names or Affects

• Public bodies that hire employees
• Candidates applying for jobs with public bodies

Terms To Know

Candidate

A person who applies for a job at a public body, but does not include senior level officials or officers.

Hiring process

The period during which an employer evaluates candidates for employment, including application submission and interviews.

Limits and Unknowns

• Does not specify what happens if a public body fails to comply with the new law.
• Does not provide details on how senior level officials or officers are treated under this bill.
• The effective date of the bill is not provided in the official summary.

Official Summary Text

SB1085 - public records; hiring process documents

Current Bill Text

SB1085 - 572R - I Ver

PREFILED��� JAN 05 2026

REFERENCE TITLE:
public records; hiring process documents

State of Arizona

Senate

Fifty-seventh Legislature

Second Regular Session

2026

SB 1085

Introduced by

Senator
Finchem

AN
ACT

amending title 39, chapter 1, article 2, Arizona
Revised Statutes, by adding section 39-130; relating to public records.

(TEXT OF BILL BEGINS ON NEXT PAGE)

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 39, chapter 1, article 2,
Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 39-130, to read:

START_STATUTE
39-130.

Employment candidate records; disclosure; exception; definitions

A. Except as provided in subsection B
of this SECTION, this chapter does not require the disclosure of any document
that is part of a candidate's hiring process, including the candidate's name.

B. On the conclusion of the hiring
process, The selected candidate's name, job title and salary may be disclosed
pursuant to this chapter and in accordance with any other applicable federal or
state law.

C. For the purposes of this section:

1. "Candidate":

(
a
) means a PERSON who
during the hiring process applies for employment by a public body.

(
b
) Does not
include a senior level public official or officer.

2. "Document" includes a
resume, an application, a reference letter, a background check report and any
other materials that are submitted or obtained as part of the hiring process.

3. "Hiring process":

(
a
) Means the
period of time during which an employer evaluates a candidate for employment.

(
b
) Includes
the time when an application is submitted and during interviews and background
checks.

4. "Senior level public official
or officer" means both of the following:

(
a
) an
individual who is in a senior leadership position or who is appointed to a
position in any public body.

(
b
) a person
who is elected or appointed to hold any elective or appointed office of a
public body, a chief administrative officer, a SUPERINTENDENT or a cabinet-level
member who serves a public body.

END_STATUTE