HB 656 Summary

• Prohibits employers from knowingly or purposely employing unauthorized aliens and establishes a complaint process through the Ohio Attorney General or county prosecuting attorneys.

• First violation of knowingly employing unauthorized aliens results in mandatory termination of unauthorized workers, three-year probationary period, and possible license suspension for up to ten business days.

• Second violation results in permanent revocation of business licenses specific to the location where the violation occurred or at the employer's primary place of business if no location-specific license exists.

• First violation of purposely employing unauthorized aliens results in mandatory termination, five-year probationary period, and mandatory license suspension for a minimum of ten days.

• Establishes affirmative defenses including good faith compliance with federal immigration law requirements, E-Verify verification status, and entrapment; filing false frivolous complaints is a fourth-degree misdemeanor.