March 1, 2010
The Honorable Joan Carter Conway
Education, Health and Environmental Affairs Committee
2 West, Miller Senate Building
Annapolis, MD 21401
Dear Senator Conway:
SB844 would require an employer under a State procurement contract or State grant to verify through the E-verify program the employment eligibility of each employee hired under the contract; prohibit an employer under a State procurement contract or State grant from knowingly hiring an alien who does not have the right to work in the United States; etc.
The Legislative Committee of the Carroll County Chamber of Commerce opposes SB844. The Committee believes that the federal government and not the states should be responsible for establishing the requirements for verifying employment eligibility under our nation’s immigration laws. Although well-intentioned, a State mandate as proposed under this bill would be confusing and costly for Maryland employers and would undermine the goals of an effective national system.
In addition, E-Verify is far from foolproof and is not yet ready to meet the challenge of a massive increase in its participant level. Mandating that certain employers participate in the E-Verify program before it is fully functional would create a huge burden for Maryland employers attempting to verify their new hires. Maryland employers should not be forced to participate in a program that has been shown to be less than 100 percent effective in supplying accurate and timely information.
We therefore ask that your committee give this bill an unfavorable report.
Sincerely,
Richard Haddad
President
CC: Senator Haines