Employment Acceleration Act.

California Governor Jerry Brown has signed into law Senate Bill 1236, known as the Employment Acceleration Act of 2011. This bill will prohibit the state, or a city, county, or special district, from requiring an employer—other than one of those government entities mentioned—to use an electronic employment verification system (a federal system that allows employers to electronically verify workers’ employment authorization with the federal government; name was changed to E-verify in 2007), except when required by federal law or as a condition of receiving federal funds.

The following are reasons why California has adopted this law:

• Making it mandatory for employers to use the electronic employment verification program increases the cost of doing business in a struggling economy.
• By implementing such a program employers report that staff must receive additional training that interrupts normal business flow. If E-verify was mandatory for all employers in 2010, it would cost businesses $2.7 billion.
• The unemployment rate in California has risen to 11%. The state must pursue all avenues in incubating and facilitating job development and economic growth.

Employers Choice Screening Legislative Alerts are provided as a free service to clients, friends and subscribers of Employers Choice Screening, a division of Diversified Risk Management, Inc. The intent is to provide information of value to attorneys, human resource, security, and risk management professionals. The information contained in this e-mail alert is intended to provide useful information on the topics covered, but should not be construed as legal advice or a legal opinion. Your comments are appreciated.

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