Sen. Kenley’s SB 139 modifies the “e-verify” provision that took effect this summer. It requires every service contract a political subdivision enters into to have a requirement that the contractor use the federal government’s “e-verify” system for verifying that the contractor is not employing illegal immigrants. The contractor is also required to sign an affidavit.
This can become a hassle for nickel & dime contracts — for example, service contracts with poll workers for a day or so of work. All kinds of contracts with local government have to be revised. On big ones where more time has to be spent thrashing out the details, it’s no big deal; but on small ones, the required paperwork can be silly when compared to what’s going on with the contract. It’s the kind of bureaucracy that makes people hate government. Sen. Kenley’s legislation would create a $50,000 threshold before the e-verify provisions would apply.
I recently went through the process of setting up E-Verify for the nonprofit I work for. No new hires to verify yet, but the set-up process alone took at least 45 minutes. I’m hoping all that work mean that when we finally do hire someone it will be easy to E-verify.
Lori, what took so long? What was so difficult to do? Or were you just on hold a long time?