Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that requires contractors and subcontractors to provide verification that their employees have Social Security numbers.

Highlights:

-Requires a public works contractor, prior to the execution of a contract for a public work, to provide the Commonwealth agency with verified Social Security numbers of its existing employees through Number Verification Service and with verified Social Security numbers of a new employee within three days following the first day of employment through the E-Verify Program (Sec. 1). -Specifies that false or misleading information regarding the Social Security number verifications shall subject the public works contractor or subcontractor to sanctions provide by law (Sec. 1). -Establishes that verification is not required by employees who are authorized under Federal law to work in the United State without Social Security numbers (Sec. 1). -Requires the secretary to conduct complaint-based and random audits of public works contractors or subcontractors to ensure compliance (Sec. 1). -Authorizes the secretary to debar the contractor or subcontractor for a second violation for a period up to 90 days and any subsequent violation for a period of up to three years (Sec. 1). -Authorizes the Commonwealth agency with which the public works contractor violator has contracted to terminate the contract without recourse against or penalty to the Commonwealth agency (Sec. 1). -Authorizes the public works contractor to terminate the subcontract of the violating subcontractor without recourse against or penalty to the public works contractor (Sec. 1). -Requires public works contractors or subcontractors that willfully violate the verifications to receive disbarment for three years (Sec. 1). -Establishes that it is illegal for a public works contractor or subcontractor to discharge, threaten or otherwise retaliate or discriminate against an employee that participates in an investigation, hearing, or inquiry or an employee that reports or makes a complaint regarding a violation to the public works contractor, subcontractor, or governmental authority (Sec. 1). -Authorizes an employee who suffers retaliation or discrimination to bring an action in court of common pleas, and, if the employee prevails, entitles the employee to reinstatement, restitution equal to three times the amount of the employee's wages and fringe benefits, and any other equitable relief deemed appropriate by the court (Sec. 1). -Specifies that a public works contractor or subcontractor that relies in good faith on the Number Verification Service and the E-Verify Program to be immune from the sanctions and to have no liability to an individual who is not hired or is discharged in the event that incorrect information has been provided (Sec. 1). -Establishes that the act shall take effect July 1, 2011 (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text