Virginia Senate Committee Approves E-Verify
A Virginia State Senate Committee has unanimously approved a bill (SB1049) that would require the mandatory use of E-Verify for all state contractors with at least 50 employees and a contract with the state for more than $50,000. The original bill, offered by Democratic State Sen. George Barker, would have applied to all state contractors, but the Courts of Justice passed the bill with a substitute amendment containing the new limitations.
The committee also changed the effective date from the end of 2011 to the end of 2013.
A State House Committee passed a broader E-Verify bill that would require all state contractors and private employers with more than 15 employees to use E-Verify for new hires. The state is currently one of 14 states with a mandatory E-Verify law already in place, but it only applies to state and local agencies.
Should both bills pass through their respective chambers, the differences could be resolved by a conference committee.
To see a map of states with mandatory E-Verify laws, click here.