Tennessee’s state immigration law just received an important update by the state legislature and Governor, and many employers in the state will soon be impacted. Beginning January 1, 2017, all Tennessee businesses with 50 or more employees will be required to use the E–verify system in order to determine workers’ eligibility for employment. If you currently do not use E–Verify, the time to begin preparing is now. By way of background, the Tennessee Lawful Employment Act (TLEA) is a relatively new state law; it was signed into law in 2011 and phased into effect by size of employer. You are therefore advised to review your procedures and records as soon as possible to ensure that you are in compliance. While the state may waive penalties for first time violations for employers who willfully violate the law but bring their employment verification records in to compliance, it is safer to ensure that records are in compliance before receiving a notice from the state.

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