Altman, Harrell Reintroduce E-Verify Legislation

An effort to require E-Verify in Florida will return for another go in the state Legislature.

Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, and Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, are once again asking fellow state legislators to require Florida businesses to use a federal system that checks the legal status of new hires.

Businesses that fail to use the program to determine the eligibility of workers under HB 1315 and SB 1638 -- both filed Friday -- would face losing their business license.

The proposal was approved in the 2011 session as part of the then hotly debated immigration reform movement by the House, but failed to gain approval by the Senate.