Legislation which puts more teeth in Tennessee’s E-Verify law to ensure that new hires are in the state legally is now on its way to the governor after unanimous approval in the House of Representatives Thursday. The bill, sponsored by Senator Jim Tracy (R-Shelbyville) and Representative Pat Marsh (R-Shelbyville), targets bad actors who find it more advantageous to pay a one-time $500 fine for hiring illegal aliens than to follow Tennessee’s Lawful Employment Act passed in 2011.
E-Verify is an internet-based system operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration that allows participating employers to electronically verify the employment eligibility of newly hired employees by entering their name and social security number. It is free to employers in all 50 states, including Tennessee. The E-Verify system has a 97 percent accuracy rate.
The bill also strengthens penalties for companies who are knowingly discarding the E-Verify system. It creates an additional $500 civil penalty per day if the employer fails to use E-Verify or provide an affidavit of undue hardship.
In addition, the legislation shortens the number of days that an employer has to remedy a non-compliance finding after receipt of an initial order for violation of the state’s E-Verify requirements from 60 to 45. (WGNS Radio)
More Teeth put in Tennessee E-Verify Law
