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Employment Verification Legislation Introduced

Legislation has been introduced that is viewed as critical to strengthening the nation’s employment verification system and to helping prevent unauthorized employment, a key component of any meaningful immigration reform effort.

The New Employee Verification Act (NEVA) would introduce a new paperless Electronic Employment Verification System (EEVS), requiring employers to confirm eligibility by entering employee identification data through their state’s “new hire” reporting program – an electronic portal they already use to enhance child support enforcement.  The new program would be entirely electronic, eliminating paperwork and streamlining verification processes.  Work authorization for citizens would be conducted through the Social Security Administration (SSA) and for non-citizens through the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

As an added level of security, the legislation would also create a voluntary Secure Electronic Employment Verification System (SEEVS) that employers may choose to use in the verification process.  This system would include a standard background check and the collection of a “biometric” characteristic – such as a thumbprint – to secure an employee’s identity and prevent future fraudulent use of a Social Security number for the purposes of illegal employment.

To ensure privacy and system accuracy, the legislation requires direct consultation with a panel of public/private sector experts in designing the system, and also by requiring annual reporting on system performance by participating federal agencies and the Government Accountability Office. 

With authorization for E-Verify scheduled to expire at the end of 2008, Congress will need to pass legislation to establish a more advanced, reliable and effective employment verification system.

The Chamber staff will be reviewing the bill and will work with our federal elected officials to make sure this issue is adequately addressed through legislation.

To view a summary of the bill, click here: