Bill > S354

This bill, known as the "New Jersey Jobs Protection Act," aims to protect jobs for legal residents by requiring employers to verify the employment eligibility of their workers. It defines key terms such as "employer," "employee," and "unauthorized alien" (an individual without legal authorization to work in the U.S.), and mandates that employers use the federal "E-verify" program, which is jointly administered by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration, to confirm that their hires are legally permitted to work in the state. The bill outlines penalties for employers who intentionally or knowingly hire unauthorized aliens, including significant fines that increase with subsequent violations, mandatory termination of unauthorized employees, and probationary periods with reporting requirements. It also establishes that the federal government's determination of an alien's work authorization is the primary basis for such cases, and using E-verify in good faith can create a presumption that an employer did not violate the law. The Attorney General is tasked with adopting rules and regulations to implement the act, which takes effect immediately.