82R124 MTB-D By: Jackson H.B. No. 178 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to requiring governmental entities to participate in the federal electronic verification of work authorization program or E-verify. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subtitle A, Title 6, Government Code, is amended by adding Chapter 619 to read as follows: CHAPTER 619. VERIFICATION OF EMPLOYEE INFORMATION Sec. 619.001. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter: (1) "E-verify program" means the electronic verification of work authorization program of the federal Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 (Pub. L. No. 104-208, reprinted in note, 8 U.S.C. Section 1324a), operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, or a successor work authorization program designated by the United States Department of Homeland Security or other federal agency authorized to verify the work authorization status of newly hired employees pursuant to the federal Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.). (2) "Governmental entity" means: (A) the state; or (B) a political subdivision of the state, including a municipality, a county, or any kind of district. Sec. 619.002. VERIFICATION. A governmental entity shall register and participate in the E-verify program to verify information of all new employees. Sec. 619.003. RULES. The Texas Workforce Commission shall adopt rules and prescribe forms to implement this chapter. Sec. 619.004. TERMINATION OF EMPLOYMENT. An employee of a governmental entity who is responsible for verifying information of new employees of the governmental entity as required by Section 619.002 is subject to immediate termination of employment if the employee fails to comply with that section. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.