|
|||
|
For Immediate Release Senate State Government Committee Approves E-Verify LegislationHARRISBURG – The Senate State Government Committee approved legislation today that would require contractors and subcontractors to establish legal employment status for all employees working on public building projects, according to Committee Chairman Sen. Chuck McIlhinney (R-10). Senate Bill 637, sponsored by Sen. Kim Ward (R-39), would require contractors and subcontractors to use the federal E-verify system to confirm that all employees are eligible to work in the U.S. Employers would be required to submit employment verification statements to the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry prior to beginning work on a public contract. "Companies that benefit from the use of illegal workers are essentially taking jobs away from hardworking local residents who have been struggling to find work during the recession," McIlhinney said. "Construction companies and contractors should not be able to line their pockets with taxpayer dollars at the expense of legitimate workers and companies." The legislation was amended to include McIlhinney's proposal to issue a warning letter to first-time violators of the proposed law. Second and subsequent violations could lead to the loss of public contracts, fines of up to $2,000 and possible debarment from public contracts. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security reports that more than 238,000 employers are enrolled in the E-verify system, and more than 16 million queries were run through the system in 2010. The Committee also sent the following bills to the full Senate for consideration:
CONTACT: Heather Cevasco | ||
|
Privacy Policy
|
|||
