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AB 2076 Opposed by Sen. Dutton of Rancho Cucamonga. Prohibiting the use of the only verification system available to employers to check for fraudulent documentation.

This is hard to believe that on the one hand we want to hold employers responsible for only hiring document workers and at the same time prohibit them from using the only verification system available.

From the Redlands Dally Facts:

Sen. Bob Dutton, R-Rancho Cucamonga, is asking his fellow legislators to oppose AB 2076, a bill that is now before the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee.

“At a time when the California economy is in a down-turn and many citizens are looking for work, the Legislature is in the process of passing a bill that would remove a method of verifying the legal status of potential workers, making it easier for illegal immigrants to obtain those jobs,” he said.

AB 2076 would prohibit state agencies and local governments from using the federal “E-Verify” system to determine if potential job applicants are legally eligible for employment. The bill would also discourage private sector companies from using the system.

AB 2076 has passed the Assembly and is now under consideration by the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, with the hearing set for today.

E-Verify is a free and voluntary, Internet-based program used nationwide. The system uses information from databases maintained by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration, which allows employers to check the validity of information provided by the job applicant.

“With the state budget facing a huge deficit and with us looking for more ways to save taxpayer dollars, why should we prohibit using a system that is free and easily available? Not only does it save time and dollars, but it helps to protect jobs for those citizens who are here legally,” Dutton said.

How does a bill like this pass the assembly? Rex Gutierrez stated that he would like to move on to something bigger. He would be moving on to a bigger mess than he imagined given this sort of legislation passing the body. Let’s hope that the Senate can apply some sanity to the process.