Law requires extra steps to verify work status
Robert Zullo
City Editor
Published: Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 6:01 a.m.
Last Modified: Saturday, August 13, 2011 at 12:15 a.m.

A new law that takes effect Monday requires Louisiana employers to take extra steps to confirm the citizenship or work status of their employees and increases penalties for those that fail to do so.

Signed by Gov. Bobby Jindal July 1, the law gives Louisiana employers two options. Employees, in addition to a photo id, must provide one of the following: a U.S. birth certificate or certified birth card, naturalization certificate, alien registration receipt card, or U.S. immigration form i-94 with employment-authorized stamp. Or, employers can opt to use the federal E-Verify system, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Internet-based process for making sure employees are eligible to work. Following either option shields employers from penalties if they are found to have hired illegal workers.

The law also increases the penalty from $250 to $500 for a first offense and from $500 to $1,000 for a second offense. For the third or subsequent violation, the employer’s license to do business in Louisiana will be revoked for at least 30 days and not more than six months and a fine will be issued of up to $2,500 for each alien employed.

The Louisiana Workforce Commission is responsible for enforcing the new law.

Several major local employers did not immediately return calls or could not be reached for comment Friday afternoon.

However, Jane Arnette, executive director of the South Central Industrial Association, a Houma-based business group, said the new requirements will help improve the local workforce.

“Most of the businesses have already have taken that type of action. However, it can only enhance the quality of the workforce,â€