This legislation addresses one of ACCG's top priorities this session. To reduce paperwork and bureaucratic morass in complying with Georgia's illegal immigration reform laws, HB 183 consolidates three local government immigration reporting mandates to one report, due once a year, to one agency; no longer mandates that businesses seeking business licenses, occupation tax certificiates  or other documents required to operate a business submit E-Verify information to local governments annually, but just once; eliminates "contracts" as a public benefit; allows those submitting documents to local governments to prove immigration status to do so by mail; and allows legal U.S. citizens to only have to prove their citizenship by affidavit once, rather than annually, to receive public benefits from the same agency. 

 

For ACCG's Sectional Summary of HB 183, please click here.   

 

For ACCG's one-stop Web shop on all things immigration for Georgia's county governments, please click here.      

This legislation prohibits the state, cities and counties from passing ordinances or requirements in contracts, permits, licenses or zoning, that would require an employer or employee to waive rights provided by the National Labor Relations Act.  For instance, a county could not require a potential contractor or vendor to accept terms to a collective bargaining agreement with its employees in order to enter into a contract with the county.

This legislation prohibits counties from requiring or prohibiting contractors on public works construction projects over $100,000 to enter into pre-hire agreements, project labor agreements, collective bargaining agreements or any other agreements with labor unions.  Additionally, counties may not discriminate against bidders, contractors, or material suppliers for refusing to adhere to agreements with unions.  When an imminent threat to public health or safety occurs, the chair may require contractors, bidders, and material suppliers to adhere to such agreements if the board of commissioners holds a public hearing that special circumstances exist requiring the adherence to the union agreements.  However, the possibility of a labor dispute because of the presence of non-union contractors or subcontractors may not be considered by the board.

This legislation sets the procedure for establishing local workforce investment boards. It also makes counties, cities and regional commissions the fiscal agent/grant recipient for certain funds.