Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2015

To amend the Immigration and Nationality Act to establish an H–2B temporary non-agricultural work visa program and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2015 2. Definitions In this Act: (1) Conditional approval The term conditional approval (2) Final approval The term final approval (3) H–2B nonimmigrant The term H–2B nonimmigrant 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(H)(ii)(b) (4) Premium processing petition The term premium processing petition 8 U.S.C. 1356 (5) Secretary Except as otherwise specifically provided, the term Secretary (6) Statutory cap The term statutory cap 8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(1)(B) 3. Returning workers (a) In general Section 214(g)(9)(A) of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1184(g)(9)(A) (A) (i) Except as provided in clause (ii), and subject to subparagraphs (B) and (C), an alien who has already been counted toward the numerical limitation under paragraph (1)(B) shall not be counted again toward such limitation in the current fiscal year and shall be considered a returning worker. (ii) An alien who has already been counted toward the numerical limitation under paragraph (1)(B) shall be counted again toward such limitation if such alien— (I) departs the United States for a period longer than 1 year; or (II) was not counted toward such limitation in any of the 3 most recent fiscal years. . (b) Effective date The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect as if enacted on January 1, 2015. 4. H–2B temporary non-agricultural work visa program (a) Admission of temporary H–2B nonimmigrants Chapter 2 of title II of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1181 et seq. 218A. Admission of temporary H–2B nonimmigrants (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Best information available The term best information available (A) a controlling collective bargaining agreement that sets wages for work performed by H–2B nonimmigrants and in which the employer is a signatory; (B) absent a controlling collective bargaining agreement described in subparagraph (A), the applicable Federal, State, or local prevailing wage laws for any time period during which the H–2B nonimmigrant performs work on a governmental project for which payment of such wages is required by such laws or ordinances if the employer has signed a contract agreeing to pay such wages on such project; or (C) absent a controlling collective bargaining agreement described in subparagraph (A) or the performance of work by the H–2B nonimmigrant that is governed by a prevailing wage law described in subparagraph (B)— (i) the wage level commensurate with the experience, training, and supervision required for the job based on Bureau of Labor Statistics data; or (ii) a private wage survey of the wages paid for such positions in the geographic area in which the H–2B nonimmigrant will be employed. (2) Displace The term displace (3) Essentially equivalent A job shall be considered essentially equivalent (A) involves the same essential responsibilities as such other job; (B) is held by a United States worker with substantially equivalent qualifications and experience; and (C) is located in the same area of employment as the other job. (4) Full-time The term full-time employment (A) 30 or more hours of work per week; or (B) for any occupation in which a State or an established industry practice defines full-time employment as less than 30 hours per week, the number of weekly work hours established by the State or industry. (5) H–2B nonimmigrant The term H–2B nonimmigrant (6) Layoff The term layoff (A) to cause a United States worker’s loss of employment before the scheduled cessation of the employer's need, other than through a discharge for inadequate performance, violation of workplace rules, cause, voluntary departure, voluntary retirement, or the expiration of a grant or contract (other than a temporary employment contract entered into in order to evade a condition described in subsection (b)(3)(G)); and (B) does not include any situation in which the worker is offered, as an alternative to such loss of employment, a similar employment opportunity with the same employer at equivalent or higher compensation and benefits than the position from which the employee was discharged, regardless of whether the employee accepts the offer. (7) Other temporary service or labor The term other temporary service or labor (A) if peak load or intermittent, for not more than 1 year, unless it is a one-time occurrence lasting no longer than 3 years; or (B) if the employer's need is seasonal, for not more than 10 months. (8) Private wage survey The term private wage survey (A) the data has been collected during the 2-year period immediately preceding the date of the petition; (B) if a published survey, the survey has been published during the 2-year period immediately preceding the date of the petition; (C) the job description for the position being offered by the employer is similar to the job description for which the survey was conducted; (D) the survey is across industries that employ workers in the job description; (E) the wage determination is based on a weighted or straight average of the relevant wages or the median of relevant wage levels; and (F) a statistically valid methodology that was used to collect the data is identified. (9) United States worker The term United States worker (A) a national of the United States; or (B) an alien who is— (i) lawfully admitted for permanent residence; (ii) admitted as a refugee under section 207; (iii) granted asylum under section 208; or (iv) is an immigrant otherwise authorized to be employed under this Act. (10) Work period The term work period (b) Petitions (1) Requirement for petitions An employer seeking to employ an H–2B nonimmigrant shall file a petition with the Secretary of Homeland Security in accordance with this subsection. (2) Contents A petition filed under this subsection shall include— (A) the reason for the employer’s need for other temporary service or labor and the full time need for the H–2B nonimmigrants and the occupations sought; (B) the number of named and unnamed H–2B nonimmigrants the employer is seeking to employ during the work period; (C) the area of employment and worksites of the H–2B nonimmigrants, except that itinerant employers who do not operate in a single fixed-site location, shall provide a list of work locations that— (i) may include an itinerary anticipated at the time of petitioning; and (ii) may be subsequently amended by the employer, with notice to the Secretary of Homeland Security; (D) the anticipated work period, including expected beginning and ending dates and an indication if actual entry or departure will be staggered; and (E) the written disclosure of employment terms and conditions that the employer chooses to provide to each proposed H–2B nonimmigrant before the date on which the H–2B nonimmigrant files a visa application. (3) Attestation A petition filed under this subsection shall include an attestation by the employer that— (A) the employer’s need for labor is for other temporary service or labor and for full-time employment; (B) the work period, the reason for temporary need, and the anticipated number of positions needed and being requested have been truly and accurately stated in the petition; (C) the employer is offering terms and working conditions normal to United States workers similarly employed in the area or areas of intended employment; (D) the employer, no later than when the H–2B nonimmigrant presents himself or herself to the consular office, will provide each H–2B nonimmigrant covered by the petition with written disclosure of the terms and conditions of their employment, including individualized expected dates of entry and departure; (E) the employer— (i) conducted recruitment for United States workers in accordance with paragraph (4) before filing the petition; and (ii) was unsuccessful in locating sufficient qualified United States workers for the job opportunity for which the H–2B nonimmigrant is sought; (F) (i) the employer has not collected and will not collect any job placement fee, payment for any activity related to preparing or filing the petition, or other compensation from a beneficiary of an H–2B petition as a condition of H–2B employment or an offer of H–2B employment (other than any Government-mandated charges, such as passport, visa or inspection fees, or other expenses for which reimbursement is not prohibited by the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 201 et seq. (ii) the employer has contractually forbidden any agent, attorney, facilitator, recruiter, or similar employment service from collecting such fees; and (iii) if the employer learns or has reason to know that any agent, attorney, facilitator, recruiter, or similar employment service has been paid such fees, the employer will fully reimburse such fees; (G) the employer has not and will not displace any United States worker employed by the employer as long as an H–2B nonimmigrant is employed for a period of 30 days preceding such period in the occupation and at the area of employment set forth in the petition; and (H) the specific job opportunity that is the subject of the petition is not vacant because the former worker in that job is on strike or locked out in the course of a labor dispute. (4) Recruitment requirements (A) Written disclosure (i) In general Not later than 60 days before the date on which an employer intends to hire an H–2B nonimmigrant, the employer— (I) shall submit a written disclosure of the employment terms and conditions for such worker to— (aa) the local office of the State workforce agency where the job is located; or (bb) in the case of an itinerant employer, the local office of the State workforce agency where the job is to begin; and (II) shall authorize the posting of such disclosure on the appropriate electronic job registry of the Department of Labor for a period of 45 days. (ii) Posting by Secretary of Labor The Secretary of Labor shall promptly post each such disclosure without requiring the employer to meet any other condition or carry out any other action. (B) Benefits, wages, and working conditions For a job opportunity for which an H–2B worker is sought, the employer shall offer any United States worker applying for such job not less than the same benefits, wages, and working conditions that the employer is offering, intends to offer, or will provide to an H–2B nonimmigrant. The job offer may not impose on any United States worker any restrictions or obligations which will not be imposed on the employer’s H–2B nonimmigrants. (C) Job offers Unless the employer has a lawful, job-related reason not to do so, the employer shall offer the job for which an H–2B nonimmigrant is sought to any eligible United States worker who— (i) applies; (ii) is qualified for the job; and (iii) will be available at the time and place and for the duration of need. (D) Records The employer shall keep a record of all eligible, able, willing, and qualified United States workers who apply for employment with the employer for the job for which an H–2B nonimmigrant is sought. (E) Savings provision H–2B employers may not be required to file an interstate job order under section 653 of title 20, Code of Federal Regulations. (c) Housing and other facilities (1) In general An employer is not required to provide housing, a housing allowance, or other facilities to an H–2B nonimmigrant. (2) Wage deduction If an employer does provide housing, a housing allowance, or other facilities to an H–2B nonimmigrant, the employer may take a wage deduction or credit toward satisfying the responsibility to pay prescribed wages in an amount that is equal to the fair value of such housing or other facility in accordance with the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 ( 29 U.S.C. 201 et seq. (3) Locating housing If an employer does not provide housing to H–2B nonimmigrants, the employer shall make reasonable efforts to assist the H–2B nonimmigrants to locate appropriate housing. (d) Wages H–2B nonimmigrants shall be paid wages that are not less than the greater of— (1) the actual wage level paid by the employer to other employees with similar experience and qualifications for such position in the same location; (2) the applicable Federal, State, or local minimum wage; or (3) the prevailing wage level for the job description of the position in the geographic area in which the H–2B nonimmigrant will be employed, based on the best information available at the time of filing the petition. (e) Transportation (1) Transportation to the place of employment Not later than the date on which an H–2B nonimmigrant completes 50 percent of the work period set forth in the petition, the employer shall reimburse the H–2B nonimmigrant for the cost of transportation for that H–2B nonimmigrant from the United States consulate that issued the visa to the H–2B nonimmigrant, or the previous worksite in the United States, if any, to the place of employment of such H–2B nonimmigrant, unless the H–2B nonimmigrant has been previously reimbursed by another employer. The amount of reimbursement under this paragraph shall be not more than the cost incurred through the most economical and reasonable common carrier, and shall include documented and reasonable subsistence costs during the period of travel. (2) Transportation from the place of employment If an H–2B nonimmigrant completes the work period set forth in the petition for an employer, and is not traveling to another worksite in the United States, the employer, not later than the time the H–2B nonimmigrant departs from the worksite, shall pay for the cost of transportation for that H–2B nonimmigrant, from the place of employment to the United States consulate that issued the visa to the H–2B nonimmigrant. The cost required to be paid under this paragraph shall be not more than the cost incurred through the most economical and reasonable common carrier, and shall include reasonable subsistence costs during the period of travel. (3) No obligation to provide transportation costs Notwithstanding any other provision of law, an employer shall have no obligation to provide or reimburse any transportation-related costs incurred by an alien seeking to be an H–2B nonimmigrant between the such alien’s home and the consulate or embassy and between the consulate or embassy and such alien’s home. (f) Reporting absconding workers (1) Requirement to notify An employer shall notify the Secretary of Homeland Security within 2 work days— (A) of an H–2B nonimmigrant who fails to report for work within 5 work days after the employment's expected start date stated on the petition or the reasonably anticipated start date in the event of exigent circumstances; (B) if the labor or services for which the H–2B nonimmigrant was hired is completed more than 30 days early; or (C) if the employer discovers that an H–2B nonimmigrant has absconded from the worksite by failing to report for work at the regularly scheduled time for 5 consecutive working days without the consent of the employer. (2) Replacement workers Notwithstanding the numerical limitation under section 214(g)(1)(B), if an employer notifies the Secretary of Homeland Security of a situation described in subparagraph (A) or (C) of paragraph (1), the Secretary shall promptly notify the Secretary of State, who shall make available to the employer 1 additional visa for the employer to hire a replacement H–2B nonimmigrant for the same job opportunity, without filing an additional petition, for each H–2B nonimmigrant who fails to report to work or who absconds from work. (g) Admission of an H–2B nonimmigrant An H–2B nonimmigrant is authorized to be admitted to the United States up to 10 days before the first day of the work period described in the petition and no later than 10 days after the last day of such work period. An H–2B nonimmigrant is not authorized to be employed except during the work period set forth in the petition. (h) Limitation on an H–2B nonimmigrant’s stay in status An H–2B nonimmigrant who was present in the United States for 3 years under subparagraph (H) of section 101(a)(15) may not seek extension of stay, change of status, or be readmitted to the United States pursuant to such subparagraph unless the alien has resided and been physically present outside the United States for the immediately preceding 3 months. This limitation shall not apply to aliens who did not reside continually in the United States for 3 years and whose employment in the United States was seasonal or intermittent or was for an aggregate of 6 months or less per year. (i) Flexibility with respect to crossing of H–2B nonimmigrants (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), if an employer files a petition for H–2B nonimmigrants and that petition is granted, the employer may bring the H–2B nonimmigrants for which the petition was granted into the United States at any time during the 120-day period beginning on the start date for which the employer is seeking the services of the nonimmigrants without filing another petition. (2) Requirements for crossings after 90th day An employer may not bring H–2B nonimmigrants into the United States under paragraph (1) after the date that is 90 days after the start date for which the employer is seeking the services of the nonimmigrants unless the employer— (A) completes a new assessment of the local labor market by— (i) publishing notice of the job offer in a local newspaper in not less than 2 Sunday editions of such newspaper; and (ii) posting the job opportunity on the appropriate electronic job registry of the Department of Labor pursuant to subsection (b)(4)(A) and at the employer's place of employment; and (B) offers the job to an equally or better qualified United States worker who will be available at the time and place and for the duration of need and who applies for the job. (3) Exemption from rules with respect to staggering The Secretary of Labor shall not consider an employer who brings H–2B nonimmigrants into the United States during the 120-day period specified in paragraph (1) to be staggering the date of need in violation of any applicable provision of law. . (b) Table of contents amendment The table of contents of the Immigration and Nationality Act is amended by inserting after the item relating to section 218 the following: 218A. Admission of temporary H–2B nonimmigrants. . 5. Processing of H–2B visa petitions by the Department of Homeland Security (a) Rulemaking Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Labor, shall issue regulations that establish the necessary procedures for processing visa petitions for H–2B nonimmigrants in accordance with the provisions of this Act and the amendments made by this Act. The Secretary shall have exclusive authority, which may not be delegated outside the Department of Homeland Security, to issue rules and final determinations with respect to the visa program for H–2B nonimmigrants. (b) Acceptance of petitions (1) In general Not later than 5 business days after the date an employer files a premium processing petition and not later than 15 business days after the date an employer files any other petition for an H–2B nonimmigrant, the Secretary shall— (A) accept the petition if the Secretary has determined that— (i) the employer has established the need for non-agricultural services or labor to be performed is temporary in nature; (ii) the number of workers being requested is justified; (iii) the employer has made the attestations required under section 218A of the Immigration and Nationality Act, as added by section 4(a); and (iv) the employer has complied with— (I) all of the requirements under such section 218A; (II) other provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act ( 8 U.S.C. 1101 et seq. (III) this Act; (B) submit to the petitioner notice of acceptance or nonacceptance of the petition using electronic or other means assuring expedited delivery; and (C) if the petition is accepted, submit to the relevant United States consulate notice of acceptance of the petition using electronic or other means assuring expedited delivery if the petitioner has indicated that the alien beneficiaries will apply for United States visas at such consulate. (2) Prohibition on certain reductions The Secretary may not reduce the number of positions an employer will receive pursuant to a petition that the Secretary accepts pursuant to this subsection because the employer hires or offers employment to a United States worker for the position before the date on which the employer indicated in the petition that workers were needed to begin work. (3) Conditional approval Once the Secretary determines that a sufficient number of petitions for H–2B nonimmigrants have been received to result in a likely fulfillment of the statutory cap, the Secretary shall continue to receive such petitions for that fiscal year and issue conditional approvals, unless the beneficiaries for visas for H–2B nonimmigrants are not subject to the statutory cap, in which event the Secretary will issue final approval. (4) Assessment of issued visas The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of State and continually report the number of visas actually issued to H–2B nonimmigrants at United States embassies and consulate offices to determine if the employers that received conditional approval under paragraph (3) may be issued final approvals. (5) Final approval (A) In general Final approvals shall be issued in the order in which the petitions were conditionally approved. (B) Refund of fees The Secretary shall refund any fee submitted for a premium processing petition for a fiscal year that was submitted after the date the Secretary determines that the statutory cap has been met for that fiscal year. 6. Coordination between the Department of Homeland Security and the Department of State (a) Electronic notification The Secretary shall consult with the Secretary of State to develop an electronic notification system to notify the Department of State not later than 48 hours after the final approval of a petition for an H–2B nonimmigrant. Each such notification shall include information indicating whether the H–2B nonimmigrant is subject to the statutory cap, whether the H–2B nonimmigrant has previously entered the United States under H–2B nonimmigrant visa status, as well as any relevant biographic information included in the employer's petition for each approved worker. (b) Weekly report The Secretary of State shall submit a weekly report to the Secretary that includes— (1) the total number of H–2B nonimmigrant visas issued during the past week and during the fiscal year to date; (2) of such visas, the total number of visas that were exempt from the statutory cap; and (3) all relevant information regarding the identity of the beneficiary who was issued an H–2B nonimmigrant visa. (c) Waiver of interviews for returning workers The Secretary of State may waive the in-person visa interview requirement for an individual applying for an H–2B nonimmigrant visa who previously traveled to the United States on H–2B nonimmigrant visa status. 7. Transparency measures The Secretary shall update weekly and make publically available on the website of the Department of Homeland Security— (1) five years of historical data of H–2B nonimmigrant petitions received and approved and the number of visas for H–2B nonimmigrants that were not subject to the statutory cap; (2) the annual target number of beneficiaries to be issued visas as H–2B nonimmigrants for the fiscal year; (3) the number of petitions for H–2B nonimmigrants approved by the Department in each half of the fiscal year, including the aggregated number of beneficiaries contained in the approved petitions; (4) the number of petitions pending approval or denial by the Secretary; (5) the number of visas that are not exempt from the statutory cap issued by the Secretary of State; (6) disclosure of the methodology and raw data used to determine when the statutory cap has been reached, including notification whenever the methodology to make this determination changes at any time during the fiscal year; and (7) the number of petitions for H–2B nonimmigrants that have received conditional approval once the statutory cap has been met, including the aggregated number of beneficiaries contained in the conditionally approved petitions. 8. GAO Reports (a) Report on methodology for statutory cap (1) In general Not later than 6 months after the date on which the Secretary issues regulations to carry out this Act and the amendments made by this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall publish a report that describes the methodology used by the Secretary to determine that the statutory cap for H–2B nonimmigrants is met and the accuracy of such methodology. (2) Content The report required by paragraph (1) shall include an assessment of— (A) the efficiencies and inefficiencies in the processing and approval of petitions for H–2B nonimmigrants; and (B) the effectiveness of data sharing between the Secretary and the Secretary of State. (b) Assessment Not later than 4 years after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General of the United States shall submit to Congress an assessment of the effect of the amendment made by section 3(a) on the domestic workforce, including data to indicate any relationship between an increase of H–2B nonimmigrants and changes in domestic employment or earnings. 9. Rule of construction The benefits and wages provided to an H–2B nonimmigrant, the services an H–2B nonimmigrant provides to the employer, the employment opportunities afforded to an H–2B nonimmigrant by the employer, including those employment opportunities that require a United States worker or an H–2B nonimmigrant to travel or relocate in order to accept or perform employment, and other terms or conditions of the employment of an H–2B nonimmigrant provided for under this Act, or the amendments made by this Act, are not primarily for the benefit of either the H–2B nonimmigrant or the employer and are for the equal mutual benefit for the H–2B worker and the employer.

Summary: Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2015 This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to declare that, effective as if enacted on January 1, 2015, a returning H-2B visa alien (temporary nonagricultural worker) who has already been counted toward the applicable numerical limitation shall: not again be counted toward that limitation in the current fiscal year, but shall be considered a returning worker; and shall be counted again toward the limitation if the alien departs the United States for a period longer than one year, or was not counted toward the limitation in any of the three most recent fiscal years. "Other temporary service or labor" for H-2B purposes means that an employer's labor need will last: (1) at most 1 year if peak load or intermittent, unless it is a one-time occurrence not to exceed 3 years; or (2) not to exceed 10 months if the employer's need is seasonal. An H-2B employer shall file an employee petition with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), which shall have exclusive authority to issue rules and final determinations for the H-2B visa program. H-2B employer requirements are set forth regarding: (1) petitions, (2) admissions and maximum stay in status, (3) housing, (4) enforcement, (5) transportation, (6) recruitment, (7) U.S. worker protections, (8) wages, and (9) absconding workers. DHS shall consult with the Department of State to develop an electronic notification system to notify the latter within 48 hours after an H-2B petition's final approval.