Derry pushes E-Verify for food handler cards, health permits

September 13, 2011 4:45 PM
From Staff Reports

SAN BERNARDINO • Third District Supervisor Neil Derry is pushing to require that all applicants for food handler’s cards in San Bernardino County be screened for legal residency through the federal E-Verify program.

The mandate Derry proposed on Tuesday would potentially impact every employee working in the food service industry in both unincorporated and incorporated businesses.

A release from Derry’s office stated the specific attempt to tie getting food handler’s cards to e-verification is believed to be the first of its kind in the nation.

A similar system went into effect in Arizona in July with the passage of HB 2102, which now requires all Arizona agencies to verify the legal residence of applicants for any state licenses such as food handler’s cards.

San Bernardino County already uses the federal E-Verify program on its government employees, as do Hesperia and Apple Valley.

Along with the food handler’s card requirement, Derry requested that food establishments provide documentation verifying worker eligibility at all health inspections in order to receive permits to conduct business.

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