Legal Workforce Act

Bill: 115-hr-3711
Sponsor: Rep. Smith, Lamar [R-TX-21]
Introduced: 2017-09-08 in the House
Policy area: Immigration
Subjects: Administrative remedies
Border security and unlawful immigration
Computer security and identity theft
Department of Homeland Security
Employee hiring
Executive agency funding and structure
Federal preemption
Foreign labor
Fraud offenses and financial crimes
Government information and archives
Government studies and investigations
Immigration status and procedures
Internet and video services
Internet, web applications, social media
Licensing and registrations
Migrant, seasonal, agricultural labor
Personnel records
Photography and imaging
Public contracts and procurement
State and local government operations
Telephone and wireless communication
Visas and passports

Summary:
action_date: 2017-09-08
text: 

Legal Workforce Act

 
This bill amends the Immigration and Nationality Act to direct the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to establish an employment eligibility verification system (EEVS), patterned after the E-Verify system.
 
An employer shall attest, during the verification period and under penalty of perjury, that the employer has verified that an individual is not an unauthorized alien. 
 
 An individual shall attest that he or she is a U.S. citizen or national, a lawful permanent resident, or an alien authorized to work in the United States.
 
The bill establishes a phased-in EEVS participation deadline for different categories of employers, including agricultural employers. 
 
The bill requires reverification of certain groups of workers who have not been verified under E-verify.
 
An employer may voluntarily reverify employees. 
 
Employment recruitment and referral are included within the scope of EEVS. 
 
The bill sets forth provisions regarding: (1) an employer utilizing a good faith defense, (2) preemption of state or local law, (3) employer penalties, and (4) worker remedies for EEVS errors.
 
 DHS shall establish programs to: (1) block the use of misused social security numbers, (2) suspend or limit the use of social security account numbers of identity fraud victims, and (3) permit parents or legal guardians to suspend or limit the use of a minor's social security account number or other identifying information. 
 
 DHS shall establish at least two Identity Authentication Employment Eligibility Verification pilot programs using distinct technologies to provide employers with identity authentication and employment verification of enrolled new employees.


Legislative actions:
action_date: 2017-10-25
text: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by the Yeas and Nays: 20 - 10.
action_date: 2017-10-25
text: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
action_date: 2017-09-27
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security.
action_date: 2017-09-08
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-09-08
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-09-08
text: Referred to the Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and the Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
action_date: 2017-09-08
text: Introduced in House
action_date: 2017-09-08
text: Introduced in House