|
|
Commissioners: background checks will burden county |
2010-03-01 |
By Adrienne Leon |
Fayette County Commissioner Eric Maxwell said a new mandate from the state concerning non-citizen workers is going to be an "administrative nightmare" for the county.
Maxwell's comments were fueled by changes last year to the Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act that require local government to verify eligibility for employees and non-citizens to receive public benefits. Maxwell said he was all for being in compliance with the state; however, feels a "better system should be in place" pertaining to non-citizen referencing.
Fayette County Director of Finance Mary Holland explained the latest verification process, which Commission Chairman Jack Smith also deemed an arduous part of the legislation that went into effect in January.
"There are forms that individuals have to complete basically proving their affidavit to receive benefits and work in the United States," Holland said. "If they complete the form and say they're a non-citizen, the county is required to go on a database and verify, via Homeland Security."
Besides additional labor for employees, board members voiced other concerns with non-citizen verification checks.
"The county has to appropriate funding," said Holland.
The county has to pay $25 a month to have access to the database, in addition to a fee that will be assessed each time the county uses the service to do a non-citizen verification.
Some board members said the duties tied into verification is a job the federal government dumped on the state, then the state handed down to local goverment.
Ultimately, board members unanimously approved the policies and procedures of the measure as recommended by the county's finance staff.
Although the action is required by the state, Holland noted non-compliance of the guidelines could slow down federal funding for local government.
"We also can't issue a contract (for local projects) without it, so non-compliance can hurt a person or company by not having non-citizen paperwork completed and in place," Holland said.
Holland said amendments to the Compliance Act may stem from the federal government’s efforts to make sure that U.S. employees are legally working, as the unemployment rate continues to soar.
For more information about non-citizen eligibility forms, visit the county Web site at www.fayettecountyga.gov.
|
We Welcome your Comments
Please understand we believe if you are going to comment you should be bold enough to identify yourself. Please fill out the form below and your comments will be submitted. Comments will be edited for vulgarity. Please provide either your email address or telephone number so we can verify the source.
