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Feb. 22, 2019Des Moines, IA |  By: AP

Federal program that verifies employees allowed to work in U.S. advances in IA Senate

A bill that would require Iowa businesses to use a
federal program to verify employees are allowed to work in the United States has
advanced through a Senate subcommittee despite concerns from business groups and
county prosecutors.

The bill voted out of a subcommittee Wednesday prohibits businesses from
knowingly employing workers with no legal residency status or citizenship. It
requires county attorneys to take action against employers, but a lobbyist for
the prosecutors say they have no staff to pursue such cases.

Under the measure, employers found in violation would have to fire all those
unauthorized to work or lose their business license. A second offense would
bring a permanent business license suspension.