Bill Text: TX HB601 | 2011-2012 | 82nd Legislature | Introduced

---

Bill Title: Relating to requiring employers to participate in the federal electronic verification of work authorization program or E-verify.

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-02-18 - Referred to State Affairs [HB601 Detail]

Download: Texas-2011-HB601-Introduced.html

---

82R2078 KSD-D
By: Jackson H.B. No. 601

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to requiring employers to participate in the federal
electronic verification of work authorization program or E-verify.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subtitle B, Title 2, Labor Code, is amended by
adding Chapter 53 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 53. VERIFICATION OF EMPLOYEE INFORMATION
Sec. 53.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
(1) "Employee" means an individual, other than an
independent contractor, who, for compensation, performs services
for an employer under a written or oral contract of hire, whether
express or implied.
(2) "Employer" means a person who employs one or more
employees. The term includes a governmental entity.
(3) "E-verify program" means the electronic
verification of work authorization program of the federal Illegal
Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Pub.
L. No. 104-208, reprinted in note, 8 U.S.C. Section 1324a),
operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, or a
successor work authorization program designated by the United
States Department of Homeland Security or other federal agency
authorized to verify the work authorization status of newly hired
employees pursuant to the federal Immigration Reform and Control
Act of 1986 (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.).
(4) "Governmental entity" means:
(A) the state; or
(B) a political subdivision of the state,
including a municipality, a county, or any kind of district.
Sec. 53.002. VERIFICATION. An employer shall register and
participate in the E-verify program to verify information of all
new employees.
Sec. 53.003. RULES. The Texas Workforce Commission shall
adopt rules and prescribe forms to implement this chapter.
Sec. 53.004. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. An employee who is
responsible for verifying information of new employees of the
employer as required by Section 53.002 is subject to immediate
termination of employment if the employee fails to comply with that
section.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.