Budget Amendment ID: FY2026-S3-767

OTH 767

Notification to Employees of I-9 Audit

Mr. Lewis and Ms. Rausch moved that the proposed new text be amended by inserting after section __ the following section:-

"SECTION XX. Chapter 149 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 19C and inserting in place thereof the following section:-

Section 19C. It shall be unlawful for any employer knowingly to employ any alien in the commonwealth, who is a student or visitor or, who has not been admitted to the United States for permanent residence, except those whose status includes work authorization, or unless the employment of such alien is authorized by the attorney general of the United States. An employer shall not be deemed to have violated this section if he has made a bona fide inquiry whether a person hereafter employed or referred by him is a citizen or an alien, and if an alien, whether he is lawfully admitted to the United States for permanent residence, or admitted with a status that includes work authorization, or is authorized by the attorney general of the United States to accept employment.

The commissioner shall promulgate regulations specifying the procedure to be followed by each employer to insure compliance with the provisions of this section.

Except as required by federal law, an employer is required to notify current employees by posting notice of an inspection of I-9 employment eligibility verification forms or other employment records conducted by a government agency within 72 hours of receiving the federal notice of inspection.

Any person who violates any provision of this section shall be punished by a fine of not more than five hundred nor less than two hundred dollars.