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S.B. 251

             1     

VERIFICATION OF EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY

             2     
2010 GENERAL SESSION

             3     
STATE OF UTAH

             4     
Chief Sponsor: D. Chris Buttars

             5     
House Sponsor: ____________

             6     
             7      LONG TITLE
             8      General Description:
             9          This bill modifies provisions related to commerce to address verification of
             10      employment eligibility.
             11      Highlighted Provisions:
             12          This bill:
             13          .    enacts the Private Employer Verification Act, including:
             14              .    defining terms;
             15              .    addressing private employers' obligations related to verification of federal legal
             16      working status; and
             17              .    providing for penalties and protections from liability; and
             18          .    makes technical and conforming amendments.
             19      Monies Appropriated in this Bill:
             20          None
             21      Other Special Clauses:
             22          None
             23      Utah Code Sections Affected:
             24      AMENDS:
             25          58-1-501, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2007, Chapter 162
             26      ENACTS:
             27          13-47-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953


             28          13-47-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             29          13-47-103, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             30          13-47-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             31          13-47-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32          13-47-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33          13-47-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34          13-47-303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35          13-47-304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             36     
             37      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             38          Section 1. Section 13-47-101 is enacted to read:
             39     
CHAPTER 47. PRIVATE EMPLOYER VERIFICATION ACT

             40     
Part 1. General Provisions

             41          13-47-101. Title.
             42          This chapter is known as the "Private Employer Verification Act."
             43          Section 2. Section 13-47-102 is enacted to read:
             44          13-47-102. Definitions.
             45          As used in this chapter:
             46          (1) "Contractor" means a person:
             47          (a) with whom a private employer contracts for the physical performance of services;
             48          (b) who is not an employee of a private employer for purposes of providing the
             49      performance of services; and
             50          (c) who is a private employer.
             51          (2) "Department" means the Department of Commerce.
             52          (3) "Employee" means an individual:
             53          (a) who is hired to perform services in Utah; and
             54          (b) to whom a private employer provides a federal form required for federal taxation
             55      purposes to report income paid to the individual for the services performed.
             56          (4) (a) Except as provided in Subsection (4)(b), "private employer" means a person
             57      who for federal taxation purposes is required to provide a federal form:
             58          (i) to an individual who performs services for the person in Utah; and


             59          (ii) to report income paid to the individual who performs the services.
             60          (b) "Private employer" does not mean a public employer as defined in Section
             61      63G-11-103 .
             62          (5) "Procurement contract" means a contract with a public procurement unit.
             63          (6) "Public procurement unit" is as defined in Section 63G-6-103 .
             64          (7) (a) "Status verification system" means an electronic system operated by the federal
             65      government, through which an employer may inquire to verify the federal legal working status
             66      of an individual who is a newly hired employee.
             67          (b) "Status verification system" includes:
             68          (i) the electronic verification of the work authorization program of the Illegal
             69      Immigration Reform and Immigration Responsibility Act of 1996, 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1324a;
             70          (ii) a federal program equivalent to the program described in Subsection (7)(b)(i) that
             71      is designated by the United States Department of Homeland Security or other federal agency
             72      authorized to verify the employment eligibility status of a newly hired employee pursuant to the
             73      Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986;
             74          (iii) the Social Security Number Verification Service or similar online verification
             75      process implemented by the United States Social Security Administration; or
             76          (iv) an independent third-party system with an equal or higher degree of reliability as
             77      the programs, systems, or processes described in Subsection (7)(b)(i), (ii), or (iii).
             78          (8) "Subcontractor" means a contractor who is at a different tier than an original
             79      contractor.
             80          (9) (a) "Third party employer" means a person who engages in the business of the
             81      assignment of individuals as a full-time or part-time hire to provide services to another person.
             82          (b) "Third party employer" includes:
             83          (i) a professional employer organization, as defined in Section 31A-40-102 ;
             84          (ii) a person who assigns individuals on a temporary basis, such as a temporary staffing
             85      company; or
             86          (iii) a person similar to a person described in Subsection (9)(b)(i) or (ii).
             87          Section 3. Section 13-47-103 is enacted to read:
             88          13-47-103. Scope of chapter.
             89          (1) A private employer shall comply with this section, and this chapter shall be


             90      enforced without regard to race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, familial
             91      status, or source of income.
             92          (2) This chapter applies to the following:
             93          (a) a hire of a new employee on and after July 1, 2010;
             94          (b) a contract executed on and after July 1, 2010, between a private employer and a
             95      contractor for the physical performance of services;
             96          (c) a contract executed on and after July 1, 2010, with a third party employer; and
             97          (d) a procurement contract executed on and after July 1, 2010.
             98          Section 4. Section 13-47-201 is enacted to read:
             99     
Part 2. Requirements Related to Verification

             100          13-47-201. Verification required for new hires.
             101          (1) A private employer may not hire a new employee unless the private employer:
             102          (a) is registered with a status verification system to verify the federal legal working
             103      status of any new employee; and
             104          (b) uses the status verification system to verify the federal legal working status of the
             105      new employee in accordance with the requirements of the status verification system.
             106          (2) A private employer may not enter into a procurement contract if the private
             107      employer is not in compliance with Subsection (1).
             108          (3) A private employer may not apply for, or hold, a license, certificate, registration,
             109      permit, student card, or apprentice card authorized under Title 58, Occupations and
             110      Professions, if the private employer is not in compliance with Subsection (1).
             111          Section 5. Section 13-47-202 is enacted to read:
             112          13-47-202. Contractors -- Third party employers.
             113          (1) (a) A private employer may not contract with a contractor if the contractor does not
             114      certify before entering into the contract that the contractor is in compliance with Section
             115      13-47-201 .
             116          (b) A private employer is only responsible for obtaining certification that the contractor
             117      is in compliance with Section 13-47-201 from the contractor with whom the private employer
             118      directly contracts.
             119          (c) A contractor is responsible for determining that a subcontractor of the contractor is
             120      in compliance with Section 13-47-201 .


             121          (2) (a) A third party employer is required to comply with Section 13-47-201 for an
             122      individual to whom the third party employer is required for federal taxation purposes to
             123      provide a federal form to report income paid to the individual who performs the services
             124      notwithstanding that the third party employer does not provide direct supervision or control
             125      over the services provided.
             126          (b) A third party employer shall provide an employer with whom the third party
             127      employer contracts evidence of compliance with Section 13-47-201 .
             128          Section 6. Section 13-47-301 is enacted to read:
             129     
Part 3. Penalties and Liability Protections

             130          13-47-301. Public procurement penalties.
             131          (1) (a) If a public procurement unit finds that a private employer has violated this
             132      chapter, the public procurement unit may terminate any procurement contract that the public
             133      procurement unit has with that private employer in accordance with Title 63G, Chapter 6, Utah
             134      Procurement Code.
             135          (b) A public procurement unit that finds a violation under Subsection (1)(a) shall notify
             136      the chief procurement officer, appointed under Section 63G-6-203 , of the finding within 10
             137      days of the finding.
             138          (c) A private employer who violates this chapter is subject to suspension or debarment
             139      under Title 63G, Chapter 6, Utah Procurement Code.
             140          (2) (a) On and after July 1, 2010, a public procurement unit shall include in a
             141      procurement contract:
             142          (i) a reference to the rules described in Subsection (3)(b); or
             143          (ii) if the public procurement unit has not made the rules described in Subsection
             144      (3)(b), a process that provides a private employer reasonable notice and an opportunity to cure
             145      a violation of this chapter before suspension or debarment of the private employer in light of
             146      the circumstances of the procurement contract or the violation.
             147          (b) (i) A private employer who is a contractor is not subject to penalties for the failure
             148      of a subcontractor to comply with this chapter.
             149          (ii) A private employer who is a subcontractor is not subject to penalties for the failure
             150      of a contractor to comply with this chapter.
             151          (3) If otherwise authorized to make rules, a public procurement unit shall make rules


             152      that establish:
             153          (a) the penalties that may be imposed in accordance with this section; and
             154          (b) a process that provides a private employer reasonable notice and an opportunity to
             155      cure a violation of this chapter before suspension or debarment of the private employer in light
             156      of the circumstances of the procurement contract or the violation.
             157          (4) The failure of a private employer to meet the requirements of this chapter:
             158          (a) may not be the basis for a protest or other action from a prospective bidder, offeror,
             159      or other private employer under Title 63G, Chapter 6, Part 8, Legal and Contractual Remedies;
             160      and
             161          (b) may not be used by a public procurement unit, a prospective bidder, an offeror, or a
             162      private employer a basis for an action that would suspend, disrupt, or terminate the project
             163      under a procurement contract.
             164          (5) For purposes of this chapter, a public procurement unit is not required to audit,
             165      monitor, or take any other action to ensure compliance with this chapter.
             166          (6) This section does not apply if the public procurement unit determines that the
             167      application of this section would severely disrupt the operation of a government agency to the
             168      detriment of the government agency or the general public, including:
             169          (a) jeopardizing the receipt of federal funds;
             170          (b) the procurement contract being a sole source contract; or
             171          (c) the procurement contract being an emergency procurement.
             172          Section 7. Section 13-47-302 is enacted to read:
             173          13-47-302. Occupational and professional licensing penalties.
             174          (1) (a) A private employer who violates this chapter is engaged in unlawful conduct as
             175      provided in Section 58-1-501 .
             176          (b) Except as provided in Subsection (2), a private employer who is engaged in
             177      unlawful conduct is subject to disciplinary proceedings as provided in Title 58, Occupations
             178      and Professions.
             179          (2) Before suspending or revoking a license, certificate, registration, permit, student
             180      card, or apprentice card authorized under Title 58, Occupations and Professions, the Division
             181      of Occupational and Professional Licensing shall provide a private employer reasonable notice
             182      and an opportunity to cure a violation of this chapter.


             183          Section 8. Section 13-47-303 is enacted to read:
             184          13-47-303. Liability protections.
             185          A private employer may not be held civilly liable under state law in a cause of action
             186      that alleges that the private employer unlawfully hired an unauthorized alien, as defined in 8
             187      U.S.C. Sec. 1324a, if:
             188          (1) the private employer complies with this chapter; and
             189          (2) the information obtained in accordance with the status verification system indicated
             190      that the employee's federal legal status allowed the private employer to hire the employee.
             191          Section 9. Section 13-47-304 is enacted to read:
             192          13-47-304. Criminal penalties.
             193          A person is guilty of a class B misdemeanor if the person violates Section 13-47-201 .
             194          Section 10. Section 58-1-501 is amended to read:
             195           58-1-501. Unlawful and unprofessional conduct.
             196          (1) "Unlawful conduct" means conduct, by any person, that is defined as unlawful
             197      under this title and includes:
             198          (a) practicing or engaging in, representing oneself to be practicing or engaging in, or
             199      attempting to practice or engage in any occupation or profession requiring licensure under this
             200      title if the person is:
             201          (i) not licensed to do so or not exempted from licensure under this title; or
             202          (ii) restricted from doing so by a suspended, revoked, restricted, temporary,
             203      probationary, or inactive license;
             204          (b) impersonating another licensee or practicing an occupation or profession under a
             205      false or assumed name, except as permitted by law;
             206          (c) knowingly employing any other person to practice or engage in or attempt to
             207      practice or engage in any occupation or profession licensed under this title if the employee is
             208      not licensed to do so under this title;
             209          (d) knowingly permitting the person's authority to practice or engage in any occupation
             210      or profession licensed under this title to be used by another, except as permitted by law;
             211          (e) obtaining a passing score on a licensure examination, applying for or obtaining a
             212      license, or otherwise dealing with the division or a licensing board through the use of fraud,
             213      forgery, or intentional deception, misrepresentation, misstatement, or omission; [or]


             214          (f) (i) unless Subsection (2)(m) or (4) applies, issuing, or aiding and abetting in the
             215      issuance of, an order or prescription for a drug or device to a person located in this state:
             216          (A) without prescriptive authority conferred by a license issued under this title, or by
             217      an exemption to licensure under this title;
             218          (B) with prescriptive authority conferred by an exception issued under this title or a
             219      multistate practice privilege recognized under this title, if the prescription was issued:
             220          (I) without first obtaining information, in the usual course of professional practice, that
             221      is sufficient to establish a diagnosis, to identify underlying conditions, and to identify
             222      contraindications to the proposed treatment; or
             223          (II) based on a questionnaire completed by the patient on the Internet, or toll-free
             224      telephone number, when there exists no other bona fide patient-practitioner relationship; or
             225          (C) in violation of Subsection (2)(m), when the licensed person who issued, or aided
             226      and abetted another in the issuance of the prescription has violated Subsection (2)(m) on more
             227      than 100 prescriptions within a 30 day period of time; and
             228          (ii) Subsection (1)(f) does not apply to treatment rendered in an emergency, on-call or
             229      cross coverage situation, provided that the person who issues the prescription has prescriptive
             230      authority conferred by a license under this title, or is exempt from licensure under this title[.];
             231      or
             232          (g) violating Title 13, Chapter 47, Private Employer Verification Act.
             233          (2) "Unprofessional conduct" means conduct, by a licensee or applicant, that is defined
             234      as unprofessional conduct under this title or under any rule adopted under this title and
             235      includes:
             236          (a) violating, or aiding or abetting any other person to violate, any statute, rule, or order
             237      regulating an occupation or profession under this title;
             238          (b) violating, or aiding or abetting any other person to violate, any generally accepted
             239      professional or ethical standard applicable to an occupation or profession regulated under this
             240      title;
             241          (c) engaging in conduct that results in conviction, a plea of nolo contendere, or a plea
             242      of guilty or nolo contendere which is held in abeyance pending the successful completion of
             243      probation with respect to a crime of moral turpitude or any other crime that, when considered
             244      with the functions and duties of the occupation or profession for which the license was issued


             245      or is to be issued, bears a reasonable relationship to the licensee's or applicant's ability to safely
             246      or competently practice the occupation or profession;
             247          (d) engaging in conduct that results in disciplinary action, including reprimand,
             248      censure, diversion, probation, suspension, or revocation, by any other licensing or regulatory
             249      authority having jurisdiction over the licensee or applicant in the same occupation or profession
             250      if the conduct would, in this state, constitute grounds for denial of licensure or disciplinary
             251      proceedings under Section 58-1-401 ;
             252          (e) engaging in conduct, including the use of intoxicants, drugs, narcotics, or similar
             253      chemicals, to the extent that the conduct does, or might reasonably be considered to, impair the
             254      ability of the licensee or applicant to safely engage in the occupation or profession;
             255          (f) practicing or attempting to practice an occupation or profession regulated under this
             256      title despite being physically or mentally unfit to do so;
             257          (g) practicing or attempting to practice an occupation or profession regulated under this
             258      title through gross incompetence, gross negligence, or a pattern of incompetency or negligence;
             259          (h) practicing or attempting to practice an occupation or profession requiring licensure
             260      under this title by any form of action or communication which is false, misleading, deceptive,
             261      or fraudulent;
             262          (i) practicing or attempting to practice an occupation or profession regulated under this
             263      title beyond the scope of the licensee's competency, abilities, or education;
             264          (j) practicing or attempting to practice an occupation or profession regulated under this
             265      title beyond the scope of the licensee's license;
             266          (k) verbally, physically, mentally, or sexually abusing or exploiting any person through
             267      conduct connected with the licensee's practice under this title or otherwise facilitated by the
             268      licensee's license;
             269          (l) acting as a supervisor without meeting the qualification requirements for that
             270      position that are defined by statute or rule;
             271          (m) unless Subsection (4) applies, issuing, or aiding and abetting in the issuance of, an
             272      order or prescription for a drug or device:
             273          (i) without first obtaining information in the usual course of professional practice, that
             274      is sufficient to establish a diagnosis, to identify conditions, and to identify contraindications to
             275      the proposed treatment; or


             276          (ii) based on a questionnaire completed by the patient on the Internet, or toll free
             277      telephone number when there exists no other bona fide patient-practitioner relationship or bona
             278      fide referral by a practitioner involved in an existing patient-practitioner relationship; or
             279          (n) violating a provision of Section 58-1-501.5 .
             280          (3) Subsection (2)(m) does not apply to treatment rendered in an emergency, on-call, or
             281      cross coverage situation.
             282          (4) Notwithstanding Subsections (1)(f) and (2)(m), the division may permit a person
             283      licensed to prescribe under this title to prescribe a legend drug to a person located in this state
             284      if the division in collaboration with the appropriate professional board has permitted the
             285      specific prescriptive practice of the legend drug by rule.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 2-23-10 11:02 AM


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