Establishes the E-Verify compliance program which would require all non-governmental employers within the state with 3 or more employees to apply to participate in the federal E-Verify program and to agree to participate in the program, if accepted.

Rhode Island E-Verify Compliance Program Bill

This bill would require most private employers in Rhode Island with three or more employees to sign up for and use the federal E-Verify program. E-Verify is a free, internet-based system run by the federal government that allows employers to check whether a newly hired employee is legally eligible to work in the United States. Under this bill, businesses that meet the employee threshold would need to apply to participate in the program and agree to use it if their application is accepted.

The bill would affect a wide range of private-sector employers across Rhode Island — essentially any business, nonprofit, or organization outside of government that has at least three workers on staff. Very small operations with fewer than three employees would not be covered. Government employers are also excluded from this requirement. Employees would be affected in the sense that their work eligibility would be verified through this federal database when they are hired.

Currently, E-Verify is voluntary for most employers in Rhode Island, so this bill would represent a significant change by making participation a legal obligation rather than a choice. The bill has been introduced and sent to the Senate Labor and Gaming Committee, where it will be reviewed before any further action is taken. It has not yet been passed into law.