Rhode Island State Representatives Doreen Costa and Peter Palumbo , have been introduced a bill in the Rhode Island General Assembly to restore and expand the E-Verify program that allows employers to check an applicants work authorization status online. Costas bill would require all
non-governmental employers with at least three employees to participate in E-Verify.
E-Verify was originally implemented in 2009 by an Executive Order from then-Governor Don Carcieri. It required all businesses doing business with the State of Rhode Island to utilize E-Verify for its new hires. In 2011, the Executive Order was rescinded by current Governor Lincoln Chafee.
A number of states already require all employers or those which contract with state government to utilize E-Verify, although none are in the New England states. The only Northeastern state to require E-Verify is Pennsylvania.
Representative Costa said she had more than 20 representatives supporting the legislation, but she acknowledged she likely faces an uphill battle. The Rhode Island House of Representatives has 75 members.
With less than 25% of the State Reps supporting the bill and the Governor opposed to it, E-Verify is highly unlikely to become law in Rhode Island.
About The Author
Bruce E. Buchanan is an attorney at the at Nashville Office of Siskind Susser, P.C. He represents individuals and employers in all aspects of immigration law, with an emphasis on immigration compliance for employers, and employment/labor law. Mr. Buchanan received his law degree from the Vanderbilt University School of Law in 1982 and a B.S. degree from Florida State University, where he graduated magna cum laude. Mr. Buchanan has been in private practice since 2003. Beforehand, he served as Senior Trial Specialist for the National Labor Relations Board for 20 years. He also served from 1991 to 2003 as Adjunct Professor at William H. Bowen UALR School of Law, where he taught courses in Labor Law and Employment Law. Mr. Buchanan was chair of the Tennessee Bar Association's Immigration Law Section from 2011 to 2012 and has been the editor of the TBA's Immigration Law Section Newsletter and the TBA's Labor and Employment Law Section Newsletter since 2009. Mr. Buchanan is a frequent writer and speaker on immigration compliance as well as labor law, wage & hour law and proposed federal legislation. He is a member of American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) and serves as the Advocacy Liaison of the Mid-South Chapter of AILA. Mr. Buchanan also serves on the Board of Directors for the Nashville International Center for Empowerment (NICE) and is an associate member of the Mid-Tennessee Chapter of the Associated Builders & Contractors. Mr. Buchanan is admitted to practice in Tennessee, Florida, and Arkansas, before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth, Sixth, Eighth, and D.C. Circuits and the U.S. District Courts for the Middle District of Tennessee and the Eastern and Western Districts of Arkansas.
Tag Cloud
The following errors occurred with your submission