HB 443 Summary

• Effective July 1, 2017, all private employers in Florida must use the E-Verify system to verify employment eligibility of newly hired employees within the timeframe required by federal law.

• Employers who fail to use E-Verify face one-year probation with quarterly reporting requirements; subsequent noncompliance within 3 years results in business license suspension for 10-30 days.

• Employers are prohibited from knowingly or intentionally employing unauthorized aliens; violations result in immediate license suspension until the unauthorized employee is terminated and a reinstatement fee up to $1,000 is paid.

• Additional penalties apply for employing five or more unauthorized aliens on the same date (7-30 day suspension), and for repeat violations within 3 years (30-60 days for second violation, 180 days for third and subsequent violations).

• The Department of Business and Professional Regulation must adopt implementing rules within 180 days, establish a public website listing all violations, conduct random audits, and notify Immigration and Customs Enforcement of violations; filing false complaints constitutes a second-degree misdemeanor.