Most Popular Change Type Size Employers sanction carry fines
Mary Jo Pitzl
The Arizona Republic
Feb. 23, 2007 12:00 AM
Anyone who suspected an employer had an illegal worker on staff could file a complaint with law enforcement, under the terms of a beefed-up Arizona employer penalty bill.
The minimum fines for lying about having an illegal worker on staff were reinstated, as Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, moved to bulk up the bill that had been watered down by fellow Republicans earlier in the week.
"Quit being a jellyfish on this," Pearce said of the legislative back-and-forth on the touchy issue of employer sanctions. "When are we going to stand up on this?" advertisement
Pearce succeeded in reinstating some of the muscle in his House Bill 2779 a day after key provisions had been removed by House leadership. Pearce said some of the changes had not been agreed to, and he reversed that in the Appropriations Committee on Wednesday. His amendments to restore many portions of the bill passed on an 11-4 vote.
The action means it would be impossible for an employer to avoid a fine. The bill levies fines if an employer were found to have lied on an affidavit stating that he or she did not hire an illegal worker. The new minimum for fines is $2,500, up from zero.
The changes also remove the requirement that any complaints be written and signed.
Another key part of the bill that was removed earlier in the week will be put in a separate bill, Pearce said.
That is the method of verifying that an employee is authorized to work in the United States and has a valid Social Security number. The original version of Pearce's bill required employers use a federal computer database called the Basic Pilot Program to check on employment status.
2007-02-23
02:01:30
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