Signed by Governor Gary Herbert

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires private employers with 15 or more employees as of July 1, 2010 to register with the federal E-Verify program to verify the legal working status of any new employee.

Highlights:

• Exempts private employers of a foreign national if the foreign national holds a visa issued in response to a petition by the private employer (Sec. 4).

• Specifies that employers are not civilly liable under state law for unlawfully hiring an undocumented immigrant if the employer registered with the federal E-Verify program and the information obtained in accordance with the status verification system indicates that the individual's immigration status authorized the employer to hire the individual (Sec. 5).

• Specifies that employers are not civilly liable under state law for refusing to hire an individual if the employer registered with the federal E-Verify program and the information obtained in accordance with the status verification system indicates that individual's immigration status was that of an undocumented immigrant (Sec. 5).

• Authorizes employers to register with the Department of Commerce to certify that they are in compliance with the provisions of this Act (Sec. 6).

• Requires the Department of Commerce, on or after July 1, 2010, to publish electronically a list of private employers that have registered with the Department and are in compliance with the provisions of this Act (Sec. 7).

This is a substitute bill sponsored by Sen. D. Chris Buttars.

Full Bill Text