E-Verify Bill to go Before Virginia Senate

The Virginia Senate Committee on Courts of Justice unanimously passed Senator George Barker’s, D-Prince William, legislation requiring companies with State contracts to register and participate in the federal Electronic Work Verification Program (E-Verify), according to a press release issued by his office Monday.

The legislation was passed Monday and will go before the full Senate tomorrow before heading to the House of Delegates for action. 

What does this mean for employers? If any employer fails to register and participate will be debarred from State contracts for up to a year.

Many groups supported the bill, including:

•  The National Federation of Independent Businesses
•  Associated General Contractors
•  Virginia Utility and Heavy Contractors Council
•  The Virginia AFL-CIO and Laborers International Union

Senators Barker and Jeff McWaters, R-Virginia Beach, worked on the legislation, the release stated.

“My four year effort to get this legislation passed was worth the time and energy it took,” Sen. Barker said. “I am pleased that your state tax dollars will be used by companies that make sure their employees are legal when they are working on highway construction and other important projects for Virginia.”

 Currently, the Federal government and 10 states require participation in the E-Verify program for public contracts. Senator Barker’s legislation would make Virginia the 11th, the released stated.

Many Manassas residents asked legislators in attendance at a town hall meeting held in Manassas in January, including Sen. Barker, to mandate all Virginia businesses use the E-Verify system to hire employees.

Residents said mandating this program would help ensure that jobs that might otherwise go to illegal aliens be available for actual law-abiding citizens.

According to the Department of Homeland Security's website, E-Verify is an Internet-based system that allows employers to know if the person they are considering to hire is eligible to work in the United States.

There is no charge to employers to use E-Verify, according to the website, and Sen. Barker told the crowd the legislature will be looking into the system and making it a requirement at the state level.