Pima rechecking employees for right to work

Sunday, December 30, 2007 11:56 PM CST



TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Pima County has begun reviewing right-to-work documentation forms for its 7,000 employees in advance of the implementation of the state's new employer sanctions law on Tuesday.

The so-called ‘‘I-9'' forms show which documents from a list of acceptable identification types an employer has reviewed before hiring the worker.

The new Arizona law provides civil penalties for employers who ‘‘knowingly and willingly'' hire noncitizens who don't have valid work documents.

Pima County Chief Deputy County Attorney Amelia Craig Cramer said the new law can apply to workers already on the payroll, prompting the county action.


One prosecutor in Pima County has been assigned to pursue cases under the new law, Cramer said. Detectives already assigned to the County Attorney's Office will investigate credible allegations of violations of the new law.

In Pima County, all complaints about potential violations must contain detailed information, be made in person in writing and signed, Cramer said.

Because the law doesn't provide prosecutors subpoena power, Pima County will rely on ‘‘request letters'' and ‘‘detectives knocking on doors'' to investigate complaints, Cramer said.

She added that she hopes revisions to the law are made to add subpoena power.

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