Legislation Introduced in Rhode Island Would Establish E-Verify Compliance Chapter in State Law

Rhode Island Representative Peter G. Palumbo (D-Dist. 16, Cranston) has introduced legislation – (2013-H5236) – that would establish an E-Verify Compliance chapter in state law requiring all employers in the state to participate in the federal program, according to a press release from Representative Palumbo. The legislation would require employers with 200 or more employees to use E-Verify no later than January 1, 2014, while employers with between 50 and 200 workers would have until July 1, 2014 and employers of 50 or fewer workers would have until January 1, 2015 to comply. To read the full version of (2013-H5236), visit http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText13/HouseText13/H5236.pdf.

“U.S. law requires companies to employ only individuals who may legally work in the country. Ensuring that Rhode Island employers employ persons eligible to work in the state is an issue of statewide concern,” Representative Palumbo stated in the press release available at  http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/News/pr1.asp?prid=8852. “E-Verify is about jobs, but jobs are not the only issue here. 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.”

Within a few days of taking office in 2011, former Rhode Island Governor 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 United States. 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. 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 has been referred to the House Committee on Labor.

E-Verify compares information from the Form I-9 that all newly hired workers must fill out to government records in DHS and Social Security Administration (SSA) databases. While participation in E-Verify is still voluntary for many businesses in the United States, employers with federal contracts or subcontracts must use the system. E-Verify usage is also required by law in several U.S. states, and the list continues to grow. A Designated E-Verify Employer Agent such as Employment Screening Resources (ESR) may help employers comply with E-Verify/Form I-9 regulations. For more information, visit https://www.esrcheck.com/formi9.php. Employment Screening Resources (ESR) – ‘The Background Check Authority’ – is a nationwide background screening provider accredited by The National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS®). For more information about ESR, visit https://www.esrcheck.com/, call Toll Free 888.999.4474, or email [email protected].

Sources:

http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/News/pr1.asp?prid=8852 http://webserver.rilin.state.ri.us/BillText13/HouseText13/H5236.pdf

About Employment Screening Resources (ESR):

Founded by safe hiring expert Attorney Les Rosen in 1997, Employment Screening Resources (ESR) – ‘The Background Check Authority^SM’– provides accurate and actionable information that empowers employers to make informed hiring decisions for the benefit of their organizations, employees, and the public. CEO Rosen literally wrote the book on background checks with “The Safe Hiring Manual” and ESR is accredited by The National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS), a distinction held by a small percent of screening firms. Employers choosing ESR know they have selected an agency meeting the highest industry standards. To learn more about ESR, visit https://www.esrcheck.com or call toll free 888.999.4474.

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The Employment Screening Resources (ESR) News blog – ESR News – provides employment screening information for employers, recruiters, and jobseekers on a variety of topics including credit reports, criminal records, data privacy, discrimination, E-Verify, jobs reports, legal updates, negligent hiring, workplace violence, and use of search engines and social network sites for background checks. For more information about ESR News or to send comments or questions, please email ESR News Editor Thomas Ahearn at [email protected]. To subscribe to the ESR News Blog Feed, visit https://www.esrcheck.com/wordpress/feed/. To subscribe to the complimentary ESRcheck Report monthly newsletter, please visit https://www.esrcheck.com/Newsletter/.