1 | 1 | | 84R7619 DDT-D |
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2 | 2 | | By: Kolkhorst S.B. No. 484 |
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3 | 3 | | |
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4 | 4 | | |
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5 | 5 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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6 | 6 | | AN ACT |
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7 | 7 | | relating to restrictions in connection with public subsidies and |
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8 | 8 | | contracts awarded to businesses that employ undocumented workers. |
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9 | 9 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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10 | 10 | | SECTION 1. The heading to Chapter 2264, Government Code, is |
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11 | 11 | | amended to read as follows: |
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12 | 12 | | CHAPTER 2264. RESTRICTIONS ON USE OF CERTAIN PUBLIC SUBSIDIES AND |
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13 | 13 | | ON CERTAIN PUBLIC CONTRACTS |
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14 | 14 | | SECTION 2. Section 2264.001, Government Code, is amended by |
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15 | 15 | | adding Subdivision (1-a) and amending Subdivision (4) to read as |
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16 | 16 | | follows: |
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17 | 17 | | (1-a) "E-verify program" means the electronic |
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18 | 18 | | verification of employment authorization program of the federal |
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19 | 19 | | Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996 |
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20 | 20 | | (Pub. L. No. 104-208, reprinted in note, 8 U.S.C. Section 1324a), |
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21 | 21 | | operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security, or a |
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22 | 22 | | successor employment authorization program designated by the |
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23 | 23 | | United States Department of Homeland Security or other federal |
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24 | 24 | | agency authorized to verify the employment authorization status of |
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25 | 25 | | newly hired employees under the federal Immigration Reform and |
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26 | 26 | | Control Act of 1986 (8 U.S.C. Section 1101 et seq.). |
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27 | 27 | | (4) "Undocumented worker" means an individual who, at |
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28 | 28 | | the time of employment, is not: |
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29 | 29 | | (A) lawfully admitted for permanent residence to |
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30 | 30 | | the United States under an Act that is enacted by the United States |
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31 | 31 | | Congress and becomes law; or |
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32 | 32 | | (B) authorized under a law enacted by the United |
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33 | 33 | | States Congress to be employed in that manner in the United States. |
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34 | 34 | | SECTION 3. Section 2264.052, Government Code, is amended to |
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35 | 35 | | read as follows: |
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36 | 36 | | Sec. 2264.052. CONDITION ON RECEIPT OF PUBLIC SUBSIDIES. |
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37 | 37 | | (a) The statement required by Section 2264.051 must state that if, |
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38 | 38 | | after receiving a public subsidy, the business, or a branch, |
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39 | 39 | | division, or department of the business, is convicted of a |
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40 | 40 | | violation under 8 U.S.C. Section 1324a(f), the business shall repay |
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41 | 41 | | the full amount and value of the public subsidy, including tax |
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42 | 42 | | refunds and tax rebates, with interest, at the rate and according to |
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43 | 43 | | the other terms provided by an agreement under Section 2264.053, |
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44 | 44 | | not later than the 120th day after the date the public agency, state |
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45 | 45 | | or local taxing jurisdiction, or economic development corporation |
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46 | 46 | | notifies the business of the violation. |
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47 | 47 | | (b) Notwithstanding Subsection (a), a business is not |
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48 | 48 | | required to repay the public subsidy as provided by that subsection |
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49 | 49 | | if the business used and reasonably relied on the E-verify program |
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50 | 50 | | before employing an undocumented worker. |
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51 | 51 | | SECTION 4. Subchapter B, Chapter 2264, Government Code, is |
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52 | 52 | | amended by adding Section 2264.054 to read as follows: |
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53 | 53 | | Sec. 2264.054. ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS. (a) This section |
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54 | 54 | | applies only to a business that is required to repay a public |
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55 | 55 | | subsidy under Section 2264.052. |
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56 | 56 | | (b) A public agency, state or local taxing jurisdiction, or |
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57 | 57 | | economic development corporation may not provide a public subsidy |
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58 | 58 | | or award a public contract to a business to which this section |
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59 | 59 | | applies before the second anniversary of the last day by which the |
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60 | 60 | | business is required to repay the public subsidy as prescribed by |
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61 | 61 | | Section 2254.052(a). |
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62 | 62 | | SECTION 5. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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63 | 63 | | a public subsidy awarded on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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64 | 64 | | A public subsidy awarded before the effective date of this Act is |
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65 | 65 | | governed by the law in effect on the date the public subsidy was |
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66 | 66 | | awarded, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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67 | 67 | | SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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