Bill > SF691

This bill establishes new regulations in Minnesota regarding the employment of unauthorized individuals, defining key terms and creating clear enforcement mechanisms. The bill defines an "unauthorized individual" as someone without legal authorization to work in the United States, and sets strict requirements for employers, prohibiting them from knowingly employing such individuals. Under the proposed law, the commissioner of labor and industry is empowered to investigate potential violations and has specific enforcement powers, including ordering employers to terminate employment of unauthorized individuals and suspending the employer's business licenses for up to 14 business days. The bill also provides for monetary penalties ranging from $1,000 to $10,000 per violation, with the specific amount determined by factors such as prior misconduct, duration of the violation, and number of unauthorized individuals employed. Notably, the bill includes a provision that using the federal E-Verify program to check employment authorization creates a rebuttable presumption that an employer did not knowingly hire unauthorized workers, which offers some protection for employers who take proactive steps to verify employee eligibility.

Labor and Employment

https://www.revisor.mn.gov/bills/bill.php?b=Senate&f=SF0691&ssn=0&y=2025