HB559 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mary Sue McClurkinCity Council

Republican

Co-Sponsors

David GrimesHoward SanderfordDuwayne BridgesBarry MaskSteve ClouseJim BartonRandy WoodJim McClendonPhil WilliamsMicky HammonGreg WrenBenjamin H. LewisWarren BeckRon JohnsonArthur PayneAllen TreadawaySpencer CollierBlaine GalliherRobert BentleySteve McMillanAlan BakerChad FincherGregory CanfieldMac McCutcheonMike HillH. Mac GipsonRandy DavisTodd GreesonCam WardJeremy OdenPat MooreJay LoveVictor GastonJoe FaustHarry ShiverJoe HubbardGerald H. AllenDickie DrakeJack WilliamsPaul DeMarcoMike BallHenry A. White

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Businesses or public employers, reguired to verify legal status of new employees through federal E-verify program, penalties

Summary

HB559 would require Alabama businesses and public employers to verify the legal status of new employees through E-Verify or a similar method, with license penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

It requires every business entity or public employer in Alabama to verify a new employee's work eligibility through E-Verify or another reasonably determined method. Public employers must register with and use E-Verify, and contracts with public entities must be with contractors who also use E-Verify to verify new employees (contracts entered before the act's effective date are exempt). Violations can lead to suspension of state or local licenses (first offense 1-30 days; second or subsequent offense permanent), with enforcement provisions and documentation-retention requirements, plus a system of rebuttable presumptions if the entity complied in good faith.

Who It Affects

• Businesses and other entities licensed to operate in Alabama; they must verify new hires' work eligibility or face license suspension.
• Public employers (state agencies and political subdivisions) and contractors; they must use E-Verify for new employees and may face license suspension or other penalties for noncompliance.

Key Provisions

• Requires verification of employment eligibility for every new employee through E-Verify or a reasonably determined method.
• Public employers must register with and use E-Verify to verify new employees.
• Public contracts must be awarded to contractors who are registered with and use E-Verify for new employees; contracts entered before the effective date are exempt.
• Maintains that violations can lead to suspension of all licenses held by the business entity, with first violations resulting in 1-30 day suspensions and subsequent violations leading to permanent suspensions.
• Businesses must retain E-Verify documentation verifying each employee for at least three years after termination and provide it to the state upon request.
• Enforcement is through the courts by county or municipal attorneys; determination of immigration status relies on federal verification, with a rebuttable presumption of compliance if good faith efforts were made.
• Effective date is January 1 of the year following passage and governor approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Employment