Bill Positions

Bill Number: SB 696

Bill Title: State Procurement - Employment of Unauthorized Aliens and the Federal E-Verify Program

Bill Sponsor(s): Senator Kittleman

Subject: Procurement

Committee: EHE

Bill Summary: This bill would have required each employer that holds a state procurement contract or receives a grant of state money to verify through the federal E-Verify program the employment eligibility of each employee hired to work under the procurement contract or grant. The Attorney General and County attorneys would have been authorized to investigate complaints alleging that employers employes illegal aliens. If found guilty of employing an illegal alien, an employer would have been required to fire all illegal employees, file quarterly reports of all hires with the county attorney, be subject to suspension of a business license.

History: In 2006 the Chamber opposed similar legislation, HB 1475, which failed in the Economic Matters Committee. In 2009 SB 696 received an unfavorable report from the Education, Health and Environment Committee.

Chamber Position: Oppose

Position Summary: The MD Chamber opposed this bill because forcing Maryland employers into an automated federal employment verification process that is not ready for widespread use would damage employers' ability to meet their workforce needs. Studies have shown that the E-Verify system is not always up to date, has significant error rates, and is incapable of capturing identity fraud. This bill would have caused employees to be unnecessarily fired and subjected employers to severe sanctions.

Position Statement: Click here (pdf)

Chamber Staff: Ronald Wineholt

General Assembly: Click here to view the bill on the Maryland General Assembly's website.