If enacted, HB 7712 would amend the Higher Education Act of 1965, creating a mechanism where institutions must actively participate in the E-Verify Program to qualify for federal financial aid programs. This participation would be monitored by the Department of Homeland Security, which would conduct checks every six months to ensure compliance. Institutions failing to meet these requirements would not only risk losing essential federal funding but would also face potential repercussions from educational authorities, creating a significant incentive for adherence.
Summary
House Bill 7712, titled the College Employment Accountability Act, seeks to strengthen the requirements imposed on institutions of higher education concerning their employment practices regarding unauthorized aliens. Specifically, the bill proposes that any educational institution found to employ individuals who do not have legal authorization to work would become ineligible to receive federal student assistance and federal institutional aid. This measure serves to uphold standards of accountability among colleges and universities, ensuring compliance with immigration laws.
Contention
The proposed legislation has sparked debate among legislators and education advocates. Proponents argue that such measures are necessary to enforce lawful employment practices and protect taxpayer-funded resources, thereby ensuring that federal funds are allocated only to institutions fulfilling their legal obligations. Conversely, critics contend that the bill could disproportionately affect educational institutions in communities with high immigrant populations, potentially limiting access to education for students from diverse backgrounds. This tension between upholding legal employment standards and ensuring educational inclusivity remains a key point of contention in discussions surrounding the bill.
Legal Workforce Act This bill directs the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to create an electronic employment eligibility confirmation system modeled after and to replace the E-Verify system, which allows employers and recruiters to verify the immigration status of individuals. The bill also mandates the use of such a system, where currently only some employers, such as those with federal contracts, are required to use E-Verify. The bill specifies documents that can establish an individual's identity and employment authorization. During the period starting when a job offer is made until three business days after hiring, the individual must attest to his or her employment authorization, and the employer or recruiter must attest that it has examined the individual's required documents. Employers shall reverify certain types of employees who were not previously verified using E-verify. The Social Security Administration shall notify employees if their Social Security number has been used multiple times in an unusual manner. DHS shall establish programs for blocking and suspending misused numbers. Employers that are required to use the verification system shall not be liable for any employment-related action based on a good-faith reliance on the information from the system. The bill establishes a phased-in participation deadline for different categories of employers, including agricultural employers. The bill increases civil penalties related to hiring individuals without work authorization. It also preempts state laws relating to hiring and employment eligibility verification, but states may use their authority of business licensing to penalize employers for failing to comply with the bill's provisions.
Relating to accountability of institutions of higher education, including educator preparation programs, and online institution resumes for public institutions of higher education.
Revises calculation of student financial need and provides circumstances for reduction of financial aid at institutions of higher education and proprietary institutions.
Revises calculation of student financial need and provides circumstances for reduction of financial aid at institutions of higher education and proprietary institutions.
Revises calculation of student financial need and provides circumstances for reduction of financial aid at institutions of higher education and proprietary institutions.