Proposed Arizona Law Would Allow Companies to Probe Employees' Birth Control Use

On Tuesday, the Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee endorsed Republican Debbie Lesko's bill HB2625, by a vote of 6-2, which would allow an employer to request proof that a woman is using her health insurance to buy birth control for reasons other than contraception.

The idea is that birth control for sexual reasons might offend the employer's religious beliefs, but employees would be allowed to use birth control for non-sexual reasons such as preventing ovarian cysts.

The bill is a pushback against the Obama administration which would require birth control coverage under employee health insurance, as part of Obamacare.

The StatePress.com reports that Sen. Lesko claims her bill is necessary because "we live in America; we don't live in the Soviet Union."

"My whole legislation is about our First Amendment rights and freedom of religion. All my bill does is that an employer can opt out of the mandate if they have any religious objections.”

Arizona is an at-will employment state means employers can fire employees for any reason, which could include not liking their birth control use.