Georgia House of Representatives Communication Office

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: J.D. Easley

Tuesday, February 23, 2010
(404) 656-031

john.easley@house.ga

Rep. Reese Introduces Georgia Employer and Worker Protection Act of 2010

ATLANTA — State Representative Bobby Reese (R-Sugar Hill) announced today the filing of The Georgia Employer and Worker Protection Act of 2010, House Bill 1259. This legislation is designed to protect jobs for Georgians by requiring Georgia businesses to participate in the E-Verify program as a condition for obtaining a business license or occupational tax certificate.

“Far too many of Georgia’s jobs have gone to people who escaped capture while crossing our borders in violation of American immigration laws,” said Representative Reese. “Statewide use of the proven, effective and successful E-Verify system will stop future jobs from going to illegal labor. In these desperate economic times, while we watch Georgian citizens and legal immigrants struggle with layoffs, it would be irresponsible to ignore this no-cost federal tool.”

E-Verify, created by an act of Congress in 1996, is an internet-based system that allows an employer, using information reported on an employee’s Form I-9, or Employment Eligibility Verification, to determine the eligibility of that employee to work in the United States. There is no charge to employers to use E-Verify, a system operated by the Department of Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration.

In Georgia, use of E-Verify is currently required by law for public employers and their contractors under the 2006 Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act.

Statewide use of the E-Verify system has been proven to successfully prevent future jobs from going to illegal labor. More than 184,000 employers are enrolled in the E-Verify program, with over 8.7 million queries run through the system in fiscal year 2009. As of January 30, 2010, there were over 4.2 million queries run through the system in fiscal year 2010.

“This bill would serve to protect both Georgia employers and lawful workers,” said Representative Reese. “It provides a ‘safe harbor’ for businesses that use E-Verify in good faith and verifies the eligibility of newly hired employees to work in the United States.”

Thirteen states, including South Carolina and Mississippi, have E-Verify legislation in place, with several more in various stages of legislative process.

For more information on HB 1259 please click here.

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Representative Bobby Reese represents the citizens of District 98, which includes portions of Gwinnett County. He was elected into the House of Representatives in 2004, and currently serves as the Vice-Chairman of the Budget and Fiscal Affairs Oversight Committee as well as Vice-Chairman of the Interstate Cooperation Committee. He also serves on the Appropriations, Banks & Banking, and Education Committees.