Legislative eNews-AUGUST 10, 2007

FEDERAL

Immigration Crackdown at the Federal Level

On Tuesday, Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff joined Senator Lindsey Graham in South Carolina to discuss immigration and employment policy, including encouraging all SC businesses to use the federal employment database and replacing all paper Social Security cards with plastic biometric cards that can't be duplicated so employers can be certain of the legal status of their workers.

On Thursday, the Department Of Homeland Security issued a "No-Match" regulation that will help the government identify and crack down on employers who knowingly hire illegal workers. In cases in which an employer has a significant number of employees with inaccurate personal identity information, the Social Security Administration will send the employer a "No-Match" letter. The regulation clarifies that employers may be held liable if they ignore the "No Match" problems by failing to take specified steps within 90 days of receiving the letter.

This morning, Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff and Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez announced a series of changes that can be made at the federal and state levels to address illegal immigration. The reforms, which represent some steps the Administration can take within current law, that may impact local businesses include:

· The Department of Labor will issue regulations streamlining the H-2B visa program. Because businesses in seasonal industries such as landscaping and hospitality frequently have a difficult time locating temporary workers, the H-2B program has proven quite popular. DOL's proposed rule will speed processing by moving from a government-certified system to an employer-attestation system akin to the PERM system that has reduced backlogs in other areas.

· The Administration will publish a regulation that will reduce the number of documents that employers must accept to confirm the identity and work eligibility of their employees. Presently, 29 categories of documents can be used to establish identity and work eligibility.

· The Department Of Homeland Security will raise the civil fines imposed on employers who knowingly hire illegal immigrants by approximately 25 percent. DHS will use existing authority to update civil fines for inflation in order to boost fines by about 25 percent, as much as is allowed under current law.

· The Administration will continue to expand criminal investigations against employers who knowingly hire large numbers of illegal aliens. Arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for criminal violations have increased from 24 in FY 1999 to a record 716 in FY 2006. There have been 742 criminal arrests since the beginning of FY 2007 (through July 31).

· The Administration will commence a rulemaking process to require all Federal contractors and vendors to use E-Verify, the Federal Electronic Employment Verification System and the Administration will help States make greater use of the E-Verify system.

· The Administration will bolster E-Verify by expanding the data sources it can check, including cross-checks of visa and passport information.

In related news, U.S. Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., will hold a town hall-style meetings next week on illegal immigration. Wilson, who represents much of the much of the Lowcountry, will hold the meeting from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, August 14th at the USC Beaufort South Auditorium.

LOCAL

Hilton Head Town Council Eliminates Affordable Housing Program

On Tuesday, the Hilton Head Town Council voted unanimously to eliminate its affordable housing program and assist users in transitioning from the program. Several reasons have been stated for the elimination of the program including housing market conditions which make affordable housing programs that are helpful in other areas less feasible on the island.

The council's vote means the town will not accept any new applications for development under the affordable housing program. Decisions must now be made to best help users of the program transition to the traditional housing market by using different deed restrictions that could make it easier to resell their property. The changes to the affordable housing program must be made to the town's Land Management Ordinance.

Save the Date.......

Workers Comp Educational Seminar

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Hilton Garden Inn- Bluffton

1575 Fording Island Road

10:00am - 12:00pm

After years of hard work by the business community and its allies, the General Assembly passed legislative that significantly reforms the state's archaic workers' compensation system. Governor Sanford, signed the bill into law on June 25,2007. The reform legislation represents an extremely positive step forward for the business community and will implement many changes that businesses must know and understand.

This is an educational seminar to address the many changes that will affect area employers and YOUR bottom line.

Space is limited, RSVP to Brenda Ciapanna at bciapanna@hiltonheadisland.org

State of the Region

Friday, September 21, 2007
The Westin Resort & Spa

Registration - 8:15 am Program/Breakfast 9:00am-11:30am

Chamber Members              $25.00
   Non-Members                   $35.00
Corporate Tables of 10        $250.00

RSVP

On line at http://www.hiltonheadchamber.com

Or email chavens@hiltonheadisland.org

Or call Cathy Havens 341-8369

Lowcountry Regional Grassroots Network Meeting

Wednesday, August 29, 2007