Our foot is in the door in the 2012 Legislative session

Article subtitle: 
House Bill 4052 Requires all State Agencies To Use E-Verify
Article date: 
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Article category: 
Oregon Issues
Medium
Tags: 
Article Body: 

Outlined below are the the highlights of HB 4052.  Call your Legislator and politely ask that they support and pass this bill during the 2012 Oregon Legislature.  It is unconscienable to think that American citizens and legal workers must compete with illegal aliens for tax funded jobs.

 

State Representative Kim Thatcher - House District 25

House Bill 4052 - Require E-Verify for State Agencies

2012 Oregon Legislative Session

 

  • Require all state agencies in Oregon to use the federal E-verify employment screening program before hiring new workers after January 1, 2013 to help ensure taxpayer funded services are provided by a legal workforce.

 

  • Requires all state agencies to submit annual reports on use of E-verify based on July 1 fiscal year calendar to Oregon Department of Administrative Services (DAS). A comprehensive report on all agencies use of E-verify will be compiled by DAS and sent to the legislative branch by Oct 1st each year.

 

  • Establishes 9 member legislative task force, including members of local agencies, to explore use of E-verify by local governments in Oregon. Report back to legislature by October 1, 2012.
     

  • E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) & the Social Security Administration (SSA). E-Verify is free to employers providing an automated link to federal databases to help employers determine employment eligibility of new hires and the validity of their Social Security numbers.
     

  • Around a dozen other states currently require the use of E-verify for state agencies, state contractors or both. Arizona’s E-verify law was upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court last year.

 

  • A few state agencies in Oregon currently use the program for some or all of their workforce including State Parks, Fish and Wildlife, and Corrections Enterprises.
     

  • 15 Oregon Counties currently use E-verify in their hiring process.
     

  • DAS believes there would be a minimal fiscal impact to compile the annual report called for in this proposed legislation.
     

  • With unemployment still hovering around 9% in Oregon, our state agencies should lead by example, using tools which offer a better chance of hiring people who are in our country legally.

 

  • Since federal law prohibits employers in the United States from hiring illegal immigrants this legislation would help enforce a federal policy.