by Nick Fishman

As many of you know, last June President Bush signed into law a mandate for Federal Contractors to use E-Verify (the government program that allows instant verification of right-to-work status).

As of November 14, 2008, the law was finalized and enforcement begins on January 15, 2009.  Teresa Cheek from The Delaware Employment Law Blog did a masterful job of explaining the law, who it affects and what needs to be done to get in compliance.  See the following excerpt from her post below.

“Starting on January 15, 2009, once you are awarded a federal contract worth more than $100,000 that has a performance term of 120 days or more, or if you have a subcontract worth more than $3,000, you will have 30 days to enroll in the federal contractor E-Verify program.  Enrolling involves signing a non-negotiable Memorandum of Understanding with the Department of Homeland Security and registering the individuals who will be using the system. I suggest that you take a look at page 5 of the E-Verify User Manual to get an idea of your options and what it will be like to use the system. The people you select to be “users” of the system will have to register and take the on-line tutorial before you can actually begin using the system.

You might want to register now and begin using the standard E-Verify system for new hires to give get a head start before the deadline. If you are already enrolled in the E-Verify program as of January 15, 2009, and you have a qualifying contract or subcontract, you will have to modify your enrollment to switch to the federal contractor version.  Within 90 days of enrollment as a federal contractor, you will have to begin using E-Verify for all new hires in the U.S. (including people who are not working directly on a federal contract), within three days after the employee begins working for pay.

There is one major difference between the federal contractor E-Verify process and the standard E-Verify process. Federal contractors will also have to run E-Verify on each current employee who was hired after November 6, 1986 and who is directly involved in work under the contract. The standard E-Verify process may be used only for new hires.”

Read the full article

by Jason Morris

This comes from National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) lobbying firm, Greenberg Traurig.

A bruising partisan battle over an overhaul of the nation’s immigration laws is expected to surface in the early days of the next Congress and new presidential administration, a clash that already has lawmakers, lobbyists and immigration advocates gearing up to fight. The stage was set in a little-noticed provision in the continuing resolution that Congress recently passed to keep the federal government functioning into March. The provision gives a short-term extension to the Homeland Security Department’s E-Verify program, which offers employers an online tool to verify the legal status of workers. The extension ends March 6 — a mere 45 days after either Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Barack Obama of Illinois or Republican candidate Sen. John McCain of Arizona takes office. “Does a President McCain or Obama want to step in next March in the middle of a cat fight? Hell no,” one congressional aide said. Some lawmakers, mostly Republicans, sought a long-term extension of E-Verify.

More from employeescreen University

by Jason Morris

Most of us knew this was coming!  This allows for employers to continue using automated I-9 Services and E-Verify as it currently stands.

Democratic leaders and Republicans agree that there is not enough time left in this year’s congressional session for the wider verification debate.

In a year when political gridlock has halted most immigration legislation, the House overwhelmingly approved a bill Thursday, July 31, that would extend for five years a controversial government-run electronic employee verification system.

Although the measure passed 407-2 under special House rules that required at least a two-thirds majority, the final outcome doesn’t signal widespread agreement on the issue.

Many Democrats and some Republicans want to overhaul or junk E-Verify. Most Republicans and some conservative Democrats praise it for helping reduce the “jobs magnet” that fosters illegal immigration—and want to make it permanent and mandatory for all employers.

More

by Jason Morris

SHRM recently had the opportunity to testify in front of the U.S. House Ways and Means subcommittee on Social Security.  I even had the opportunity discuss the Johnson Bill (H.R. 5515) with the SHRM Manager of Public Affiars a few months ago in Boston at the SHRM HR Global Conference.  SHRM is really pushing acceptance of this bill for a myriad of reasons, most notably the level of Non-Confirmations in an admittedly imperfect system.  According to SHRM CEO, Sue Meisinger:

“New Employee Verification Act” (NEVA).  H.R. 5515 would create a new, more secure, accurate, and reliable employment verification system.”

“The employers we represent are fully committed to the hiring of only work-authorized individuals through an effective, efficient electronic employment verification system,” said Meisinger. “We believe effective employment verification is the lynchpin for true immigration reform. We also recognize that the current employment verification system is in need of real reform and is inadequate to meet current and future demands.”

Workforce Management has an interesting take on the debate.  The ‘Father’ of the E-Verify system, Rep. Ken Calvert, R-California called on SHRM to end their negative advertising campaign against E-Verify.  According to Workforce Managment:

At the hearing, Calvert defended his creation, testifying that 92 percent of employees put into the system are immediately approved and less than 1 percent successfully contest a nonconfirmation.

About 61,000 employers voluntarily use E-Verify. The law that established the system expires in November. Calvert has introduced a bill that would reauthorize it and mandate that all 7.4 million employers sign up over a seven-year period.

Most of the input at the hearing came from people who were concerned that such an expansion of E-Verify would overwhelm the Social Security system.

After mulling it over for a couple days, Calvert issued a pointed statement on Thursday.

“While I appreciated the opportunity to testify, it was clear that the hearing, as evidenced by the second witness panel, was slanted against E-Verify,” he said. “The fact remains that E-Verify is the only tool available for employers, who are required to hire a legal workforce, to check the veracity of identification documents presented by a new employee.”

Then the shot across SHRM’s bow: “There are certain interests that simply do not want employment verification. That is why they will denounce E-Verify and assert that there is a perfect system out there somewhere, when in fact there is no perfect system.”

In my opinion they are both right.  Having spent four years in Washington every March lobbying on behalf of our industry I see both points.  employeescreenIQ has written several articles and blogs on this subject.  E-Verify is far from a perfect system.  The database needs a lot of work and verification standards need updating.  The TNC’s (Tentative Non Confirmations) are causing a lot of heartache for various industries.  Personally, I really like H.R. 5515, I think it simplifies the system and makes it easier for organizations to comply.  However, hearing from legislatures in D.C. there is little support for H.R. 5515 and little money allocated to scrap what is in place and create a whole new system.  I think you will see a re-vamp of E-Verify and a more accurate database in the coming years.  I think H.R. 5515 is a great push to make this happen. I have been wrong before so lets wait and see what happens.  I commend SHRM for their efforts, its doing a lot of good on both fronts!