MS HB966

Amends Mississippi Employment Protection Act to prohibit employers from knowingly employing unauthorized aliens and requires compliance with federal E-Verify program for work authorization verification.

Requires employers to complete work authorization verification within 3 days of hiring and establishes phased compliance deadlines based on employer size, with all employers required to comply by July 1, 2011.

Creates a rebuttable presumption that employers who enroll in E-Verify within 3 days of hiring did not knowingly employ an unauthorized alien, providing protection from liability under the section.

Prohibits discharge of U.S. citizens or permanent resident aliens while retaining unauthorized aliens in the same job category, defining this as discriminatory practice.

Establishes penalties including cancellation of state/public contracts for up to 3 years and loss of business licenses/permits for up to 1 year for violations; exempts homeowners hiring for noncommercial purposes.