Texas Senate Bill SB357

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Filed: 12/12/08

Caption

Relating to a prohibition against the knowing employment of persons not lawfully present in the United States and the suspension of licenses held by certain employers for the knowing employment of those persons.

Impact

The introduction of SB357 is expected to have notable impacts on state labor laws and the operations of businesses across Texas. Employers who do not comply with the provisions of this bill may face severe repercussions, including the suspension of their business licenses. Licensing authorities are mandated to implement immediate suspensions without additional review or hearing, which streamlines the process but raises concerns about the potential for misinterpretation or erroneous suspensions impacting lawful businesses.

Summary

SB357 aims to enforce stricter regulations on the employment of individuals not lawfully present in the United States. The bill prohibits employers from knowingly hiring such individuals and establishes a framework for penalizing employers who violate this prohibition. Specifically, the bill allows for the suspension of business licenses for employers found to be in violation of the law. This regulation is a significant expansion of the state's authority to oversee employment practices in relation to immigration status, reflecting an increasing focus on immigration enforcement at the state level.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding SB357 include concerns from various stakeholders regarding the potential for abuse in how the law is enforced. Critics argue that the legislation may disproportionately affect smaller businesses that may lack the resources to adequately verify the employment eligibility of their workers. Additionally, there are worries that the stringent provisions might lead to increased discrimination or unfair practices during hiring, as employers may become overly cautious in their hiring practices for fear of license suspension.