Committee holds employment verification bill

After a 45-minute hearing, a House panel delayed a vote Thursday morning that would require business that contract with the state use a federal system to verify the legal status of new hires.

Members of the House Workforce Services Committee said they wanted more time to review HB257, which sponsor Rep. Rep. Christopher Herrod, R-Provo, says would protect children against identity theft.

But some panel members and business leaders questioned the accuracy of the Internet-based E-Verify System and wondered whether it would cost the state contracts.

"We work hard to ensure we have great suppliers," said Douglis Richins, state purchasing director. "Potentially we would lose some good suppliers ... This might be a step in the wrong direction."

But Assistant Attorney General Richard Hamp said by requiring the companies to federally verify that the name, age, and Social Security number of new hires match, the state would help protect against identity theft.

"We have a 9-year-old who earned $36,000 in the first three months of last year," Hamp said. "The problem with this is it's affecting these kids' futures."

The bill has a $13,000 fiscal note, because of potential audits, Herrod said. The bill requires use of the federal system by companies that receive certain economic incentives and procurement contracts from the state. Herrod said he plans to amend it to remove the economic incentives.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com