BILL ANALYSIS Ó AB 622 Page 1 CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS AB 622 (Roger Hernández) As Amended June 18, 2015 Majority vote -------------------------------------------------------------------- |ASSEMBLY: | | (May 22, |SENATE: |23-12 | (September 2, | | |50-25 |2015) | | |2015) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | -------------------------------------------------------------------- Original Committee Reference: L. & E. SUMMARY: Enacts provisions of law related to the use of the federal electronic employment verification system known as E-Verify. The Senate amendments: 1)Specify that an employer shall provide specified notice to an employee "as soon as practicable." 2)Make other minor changes. FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs. AB 622 Page 2 COMMENTS: According to the author, this bill limits the misuse of E-Verify by prohibiting unscrupulous employers from engaging in unjust E-Verify practices against workers (consistent with federal law) and creates financial civil penalties for employers who maliciously use E-Verify against their workforce. This bill is co-sponsored by the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) and the California Immigrant Policy Center. They argue that this bill will strengthen California's protections for all workers by limiting misuse of the E-Verify program and creating penalties for abuse. The sponsors state that this bill would codify and clarify existing federal policy by prohibiting employers from engaging in potentially discriminatory E-Verify practices, clarifying the notification process for businesses and workers, and creating financial civil penalties for employer abuse. The California Bus Association opposes this bill and argues that the federal government requires verification of citizenship or naturalization for purposes of employment, and that many of their members use E-Verify to comply with this requirement. They argue that this bill would hinder them from complying with federal law. Analysis Prepared by: Ben Ebbink / L. & E. / (916) 319-2091 FN: 0001140 AB 622 Page 3