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LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR BRYANT COMMENDS HOUSE FOR PASSING COMPREHENSIVE ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION REFORM


3.5.08 - In a sweeping 111/8 vote today, the Mississippi House of Representatives passed the most comprehensive form of Illegal Immigration legislation in Mississippi’s history.

Senate Bill 2988 authored by freshman Senator Michael Watson and part of Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant’s Accountability Agenda now heads to Governor Barbour for approval. This bill would require that private and public employers use E-verification as a screening method for new employees. Mississippi would join a number of surrounding states that have already passed comprehensive illegal immigration reform.

“I am proud of what the Mississippi House has done today. This is by far the most comprehensive illegal immigration reform in Mississippi’s history and it was done without adversely impacting law abiding citizens or employers,” stated Lt. Governor Phil Bryant. “I reported on the financial impact of illegal immigration as State Auditor and campaigned on it during my election for Lt. Governor. Illegal Immigration is a real issue with real problems and today Mississippi is sending a message that we will not tolerate persons coming here illegally and stealing our jobs.”

Furthermore, SB 2988 also includes provisions for contract cancelation as well as effective dates for employers to comply:

  • Subject to the cancellation of any state or public contract,
  • Resulting in ineligibility for any state or public contract for up to three (3) years,
  • Loss of any license, permit, certificate or other document granted to the employer by any agency, department or government entity in the State of Mississippi for the right to do business in Mississippi for up to one (1) year, or both.
  • It shall be a felony for any person to accept or perform employment for compensation knowing or in reckless disregard that the person is an unauthorized alien with respect to employment during the period which the unauthorized employment occurred.
  • Department of Employment Security, State Tax Commission, Secretary of State,
  • Department of Human Services, Attorney General has authority to seek penalties.
  • Employer with 250+ employees, July 1, 2008 effective date
  • Employer with 100-250, July 1, 2009 effective date
  • Employer with 30-100, July 1, 2010 effective date
  • Less than 30 employees, July 1, 2011 effective date

Senator Michael Watson noted, “We definitely addressed a growing national and state issue with the passage of SB 2988 today and I hope the Governor will agree. I heard this issue time and time again as I knocked on the doors of my district this summer, and I am glad we have delivered a step in the right direction.”

About Lieutenant Governor Phil Bryant
Phil Bryant was sworn-in as Mississippi’s Lieutenant Governor on January 10, 2008 after capturing 59% of the vote in the November election. He started his career in public service as a Hinds County Deputy Sheriff and was elected to the Mississippi House of Representatives from District 59 in Rankin County in 1992 and, re-elected in 1995. Bryant was , and appointed as State Auditor by the late Governor Kirk Fordice and . Bryant was re-elected as State Auditor overwhelmingly in 1999 and without opposition in 2003.

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