This was HB 1259 last session, it never saw even a subcommittee hearing. That will not be the case ths year. Incoming Governor Deal has voiced his support for the concept. HERE.

MAP of states with E-Verify laws HERE.

Added 5:22: LIST of E-Verify users in Georgia from the U.S Department of Homeland Security as of 3 September, 2010HERE ( large file)

There are more than 16,000 Georgia users by my count and the list is growing daily!

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT D.A. King

To enact the “Georgia Employer and Worker Protection Act of 2011”; to provide for a short title; to amend Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, so as to require participation in the federal employment eligibility verification system as a condition of obtaining a business license or occupational tax certificate; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.This Act shall be known and may be cited as the “Georgia Employer and Worker Protection Act of 2010.”

SECTION 2.Chapter 60 of Title 36 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to general provisions applicable to counties and municipal corporations, is amended by revising Code Section 36-60-6, relating to the issuance of local business licenses and evidence of state licensure, as follows:”36-60-6.(a) Before any county or municipal corporation issues a business license or occupational tax certificate to any person engaged in a profession or business required to be licensed by the state under Title 43, the person must provide evidence of such licensure to the appropriate agency of the county or municipal corporation that issues business licenses. No business license shall be issued to any person subject to licensure under Title 43 without evidence of such licensure being presented.(b) Any person presenting false or misleading evidence of such state licensure shall be guilty of a misdemeanor.(b) In addition to the requirements of subsection (a) of this Code section, before any county or municipal corporation issues or renews a business license or occupational tax certificate to any business, the business shall obtain authorization to use and agree to use, as a condition of being issued a business license or occupational tax certificate, the federal employment eligibility verification system known as E-Verify or any future replacement employment eligibility verification system. In order to ensure compliance with this subsection, any county or municipal corporation issuing a business license or occupational tax certificate shall require, as a part of the application process, a notarized sworn affidavit from each applicant attesting that he or she will utilize the employment eligibility verification system. The affidavit shall include the federally assigned user number and date of authority and shall express an intent to continually use the system in accordance with federal regulations.(c) Any county or municipal corporation issuing a business license or occupational tax certificate shall annually provide to the Department of Audits and Reports, not later than December 31 of each year, a report demonstrating compliance with the provisions of this Code section. Each year, the Department of Audits and Reports shall conduct an annual audit of no fewer than 25 percent of such reporting agencies. The Department of Audits and Reports shall publish not later than February 1 of each year a report of the department’s audit findings.”

SECTION 3.This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2010, and shall apply to business licenses or occupational tax certificates issued on or after such date.

SECTION 4.All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed