Also earlier this month, the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee heard HB 1151, which would require employers to review and verify the validity of employee identification documents (social security cards, ICE work authorization forms, other forms of work authorization, driver's licenses, and other government issued identification cards), to secure an affidavit from each employee affirming that the work authorization and identification documents provided are valid and current, and swear out an affidavit affirming that the employer has verified the validity of documentation provided by the employee. The bill further states that any employer who employs an illegal alien shall be liable for any and all medical costs resulting from any injury sustained by the illegal alien while in the course of business, including hospital costs, professional medical costs, nursing care and rehabilitation costs, and transportation back to the employee's country of origin. Civil penalties outlined in the bill range from $500 to $5,000 for each day of noncompliance, increasing with each offense. This bill would impose on New Hampshire businesses an obligation to verify the validity of documents that federal immigration officials sometimes struggle to verify, and then impose serious sanctions if mistakes are made. The prime sponsor of HB 1151 is Rep. Jordan Ulery (R-Hudson). The bill is before the House Criminal Justice and Public Safety Committee. A hearing on this bill and several other immigration bills was held on January 11th. A work session has not yet been scheduled. NHLRA is very concerned with this legislation.
