| 2/4/2013 |
Palumbo introduces bill to require E-Verify compliance
STATE HOUSE – As expectations increase that there will be significant federal action this year on immigration, there are expectations that the E-Verify system will play a role in any new law.
“U.S. law requires companies to employ only individuals who may legally work in the country,” said Rep. Peter G. Palumbo (D-Dist. 16, Cranston). “Ensuring that Rhode Island employers employ persons eligible to work in the state is an issue of statewide concern.”
Within a few days of taking office in 2011, Gov. Lincoln Chafee issued an executive order terminating the state’s participation in the federal E-Verify program, an Internet-based system that allows businesses to determine the eligibility of their employees to work in the U.S.
Legislation introduced this week by Representative Palumbo would establish an E-Verify compliance chapter in state law, requiring all employers in Rhode Island to participate in the federal program.
“Employers who violate the federal employment laws with respect to the hiring of persons who are unauthorized to work in the U.S. place an undue economic burden on employers who attempt to hire only persons authorized to work here,” said Representative Palumbo.
“I believe we need to preserve the dream of America as a land with open arms for all legal immigrants who wish to come here for a better life for themselves and their families. But the only way to do that is to stem the tide of illegal immigration and target those who are abetting that illegal action,” he said.
The legislation, (2013-H5236), would create a new chapter of state law, E-Verify Compliance. It requires employers with 200 or more employees to apply to participate in the program no later than January 1, 2014. Employers of between 50 and 200 workers would have until July 1, 2014, to participate in the program, and those employers of 50 or fewer workers would have until January 1, 2015, to comply.
The Department of Labor and Training would be responsible for providing to the Investigation Division of the U.S. Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement a list of those employers who fail to comply. The bill requires employers to immediately terminate the employment of any worker upon receipt of a final notice from the Department of Homeland Security of non-confirmation of that individual’s work eligibility.
“E-Verify is about jobs, but jobs are not the only issue here,” said Representative Palumbo. “Illegal immigration is a significant factor in three major budget issues faced by our state and others – education, health care and criminal justice. This is an issue of fairness, making sure that the many hard-working, taxpaying legal workers in our state are not footing the bill for those who are here working illegally.”
“There is simply no effective way to protect our citizens and stop the flow of illegal immigrants to our state without enforcing the laws that already exist and stopping those who harbor or hire illegal workers,” he said. “E-Verify is an easy and effective means to do that.”
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Labor. It is co-sponsored by Rep. Jan P. Malik (D-Dist. 67, Barrington, Warren), Rep. Joseph A. Trillo (R-Dist. 24, Warwick), Rep. Doreen Costa (R-Dist. 31, North Kingstown, Exeter) and Rep. Robert B. Jacquard (D-Dist. 17, Cranston).
For more information, contact:
Randall T. Szyba, Publicist
State House Room 20
Providence, RI 02903
(401) 222-2457 |
LEGISLATIVE INFO
