Immigration (Work Authorization)

This bill requires employers in Pennsylvania's meat packing and food preparation industries to verify the work authorization status of their employees using the federal E-Verify system. It applies specifically to businesses with 100 or more employees at a single facility or those licensed under state food safety and meat hygiene laws. Employers must keep verification records for the duration of employment or three years, whichever is longer, and the Department of Labor and Industry will be authorized to investigate complaints and inspect business records for compliance. The legislation prohibits knowingly hiring unauthorized employees and establishes a formal complaint process for individuals alleging violations. Penalties for non-compliance are imposed through existing state legal frameworks.

This Pennsylvania bill requires hotels and lodgings with at least 150 rooms to verify the work authorization status of all employees through the federal E-Verify system and maintain verification records for at least three years or the duration of employment. The law prohibits employers from knowingly hiring individuals who lack legal permission to work in the United States and applies to staffing agencies supplying workers to the hotel industry. The Department of Labor and Industry will be tasked with investigating complaints about violations, conducting inspections of employer records, and interviewing relevant personnel. Employers who violate the prohibition face penalties, while individuals who knowingly submit false information in complaints could face criminal charges.

HB 610 amends Pennsylvania's 1929 Administrative Code to require public works contractors and subcontractors to verify new employees' work eligibility using the federal E-Verify program (EVP). It mandates that contractors provide a verification form to public bodies before awarding or executing contracts, confirming their enrollment in EVP and compliance with the law. Contractors without employees may submit an affidavit instead of EVP enrollment but must enroll and provide verification upon hiring. The bill also prohibits discrimination during verification and includes protections for contractors acting in good faith. These changes directly affect all entities working on public construction projects funded by the Commonwealth or its political subdivisions.

HB 1781 requires organizations receiving Pennsylvania state grants (like nonprofits or contractors) to verify the employment eligibility of new employees using the federal E-Verify system. It establishes a Commonwealth Grantee Employment Verification Account and mandates that grant recipients complete a specific verification form confirming their use of E-Verify before receiving grant funds. The bill imposes penalties for willful violations, such as failing to verify eligibility or providing false information, and prohibits discrimination during verification. This applies to all grantees, contractors, and subcontractors funded by state grants used for employee wages, directly affecting entities receiving public funding.