HCR2060 - 562R

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives of the State of Arizona, the Senate concurring:

1. Under the power of the referendum, as vested in the Legislature, the following measure, relating to unauthorized aliens, is enacted to become valid as a law if approved by the voters and on proclamation of the Governor:

AN ACT

amending title 9, chapter 4, article 8, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 9-500.50; amending title 11, chapter 2, article 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 11-269.29; amending title 13, chapter 37, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 13-3733; amending section 23-214, Arizona Revised Statutes; amending title 41, chapter 6, article 7.2, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section 41-1080.02; amending title 41, chapter 57, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding article 2; relating to unauthorized aliens.

Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona:

Section 1. Title 9, chapter 4, article 8, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 9-500.50, to read:

START_STATUTE9-500.50. E-verify program; public welfare monies; enrollment and removal requirements; statewide concern; applicability; definition

A. On or after January 1, 2026, a city or town shall verify that an adult recipient is lawfully present in the United States under federal law by using the e-verify program before enrolling the recipient in a public welfare program unless state law expressly states that a person without lawful immigration status is eligible for the financial aid or benefit and shall keep a record of the verification for at least three years.

B. on or before January 1, 2029, each city or town shall use the e-verify program to confirm that each non-United States citizen who is receiving financial aid or any benefit through a public welfare program is lawfully present in the United States under federal law. If a city or town cannot verify the lawful presence of an adult RECIPIENT, the city or town shall PROMPTLY remove the RECIPIENT from the public welfare PROGRAM and discontinue the provision of financial aid or benefit to that recipient unless state law expressly states that a person without lawful immigration status is eligible for the financial aid or benefit.

C. Due to the economic and fiscal impact of illegal immigration on this state, regulation of eligibility for public welfare programs is a matter of statewide concern.

d. This section does not prohibit a city or town from administering federal monies to a recipient who is eligible for financial aid or benefits offered pursuant to a federal program.

e. For the purposes of this section, "Public welfare program" means any program administered by a city or town that provides an individual with financial aid in the amount of at least $500 per year or any benefit with a value of at LEAST $500 per year, including benefits that relate to health, disability, public or assisted housing, food assistance or unemployment. END_STATUTE

Sec. 2. Title 11, chapter 2, article 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 11-269.29, to read:

START_STATUTE11-269.29. E-verify program; public welfare monies; enrollment and removal requirements; statewide concern; applicability; definition

A. On or after January 1, 2026, a county shall verify that an adult recipient is lawfully present in the United States under federal law by using the e-verify program before enrolling the recipient in a public welfare program unless state law expressly states that a person without lawful immigration status is eligible for the financial aid or benefit and shall keep a record of the verification for at least three years.

B. on or before January 1, 2029, each county shall use the e-verify program to confirm that each non-United States citizen who is receiving financial aid or any benefit through a public welfare program is lawfully present in the United States under federal law. If a county cannot verify the lawful presence of an adult RECIPIENT, the county shall PROMPTLY remove the RECIPIENT from the public welfare PROGRAM and discontinue the provision of financial aid or benefit to that recipient unless state law expressly states that a person without lawful immigration status is eligible for the financial aid or benefit.

C. Due to the economic and fiscal impact of illegal immigration on this state, regulation of eligibility for public welfare programs is a matter of statewide concern.

D. This section does not prohibit a county from administering federal monies to a recipient who is eligible for financial aid or benefits offered pursuant to a federal program.

E. For the purposes of this section, "Public welfare program" means any program administered by a county that provides an individual with financial aid in the amount of at least $500 per year or any benefit with a value of at LEAST $500 per year, including benefits that relate to health, disability, public or assisted housing, food assistance or unemployment. END_STATUTE

Sec. 3. Title 13, chapter 37, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 13-3733, to read:

START_STATUTE13-3733. Obstruction of legal duty to use e-verify; unauthorized alien; classification; definition

A. A person commits obstruction of the legal duty to use e-verify when the person, acting alone or in conjunction with another person, commits any completed or PREPARATORY offense with the intent to obstruct, impair or hinder any person's duty to use the e-verify program as required by law.

B. An employer commits obstruction of the legal duty to use the e-verify program if the employer KNOWINGLY refuses to verify the employment eligibility of a person through the e-verify program as required in section 23-214 when the employer knows or has reason to know that the person is not lawfully present in the United States under federal law.

C. a violation of this section is a class 6 felony.

d. For the purposes of this section, "Employer" has the same meaning prescribed in section 23-211. END_STATUTE

Sec. 4. Section 23-214, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended to read:

START_STATUTE23-214. Verification of employment eligibility; e-verify program; economic development incentives; list of registered employers; attorney general; county attorney; civil penalty; affirmative defense; applicability

A. After December 31, 2007, Through December 31, 2025, every employer, after hiring an employee, shall verify the employment eligibility of the employee through the e-verify program and shall keep a record of the verification for the duration of the employee's employment or at least three years, whichever is longer.

B. On or after January 1, 2026, every employer shall use the e-verify program to confirm the lawful presence of any individual when the employer initially enters into a contract with the individual for labor or services that is valued at $600 or more. This subsection does not require an employer to do any of the following:

1. Use the e-verify program for the same individual more than once.

2. Use the e-verify program for an individual that has a subcontract for work through another employer or independent contractor.

3. Use the e-verify program for any individual or entity that holds a valid license issued by an agency. For the purposes of this Paragraph:

(a) "Agency" has the same meaning prescribed in section 41-1080.

(b) "License" has the same meaning prescribed in section 41-1080.

4. Use the e-verify program for any individual that holds a valid driver license issued by the department of transportation pursuant to section 28-3153.

B. C. In addition to any other requirement for an employer to receive an economic development incentive from a government entity, the employer shall register with and participate in the e-verify program. Before receiving the economic development incentive, the employer shall provide proof to the government entity that the employer is registered with and is participating in the e-verify program. If the government entity determines that the employer is not complying with this subsection, the government entity shall notify the employer by certified mail of the government entity's determination of noncompliance and the employer's right to appeal the determination. On a final determination of noncompliance, the employer shall repay all monies received as an economic development incentive to the government entity within thirty days of after the final determination. For the purposes of this subsection:

1. "Economic development incentive" means any grant, loan or performance-based incentive from any government entity that is awarded after September 30, 2008. Economic development incentive does not include any tax provision under title 42 or 43.

2. "Government entity" means this state and any political subdivision of this state that receives and uses tax revenues.

C. D. Every three months the attorney general shall request from the United States department of homeland security a list of employers from this state that are registered with the e-verify program. On receipt of the list of employers, the attorney general shall make the list available on the attorney general's website.

E. On or after January 1, 2026, on receipt of a complaint alleging that an employer knowingly refused to verify the employment eligibility of a person as required under subsection A, B or C of this section, the attorney general or county attorney shall investigate whether the employer violated subsection A or B of this section and any other provision of this article. The county sheriff or any other local law enforcement agency may assist in the investigation of the complaint. A person who KNOWINGLY files a false and frivolous complaint under this subsection is guilty of a class 3 misdemeanor.

F. When investigating a complaint, the attorney general or county attorney shall verify the work authorization of the alleged UNAUTHORIZED alien with the federal government pursuant to 8 United States Code section 1373(c). A state, county or local official shall not attempt to independently make a final determination on whether an alien is AUTHORIZED to work in the United States. An alien's immigration status or work authorization status shall be verified with the federal government pursuant to 8 United States Code section 1373(c).

G. On or after January 1, 2026, if, after an investigation, the attorney general or county attorney determines that an employer KNOWINGLY violated this section and intentionally or KNOWINGLY employed an unauthorized alien in violation of section 23-212 or 23-212.01, the attorney general or the county attorney for the county in which an alleged violation of this article occurred may file an action in superior court to enforce this section.

H. On or after January 1, 2026, if the superior court finds that an employer KNOWINGLY violated this section and that the EMPLOYER'S violation of this section caused the employer to violate section 23-212 or 23-212.01, the employer is liable for a civil penalty of not more than $10,000 for each UNAUTHORIZED alien employed in violation of this article. The superior court shall order the civil penalties to be paid as follows:

1. For civil penalties ordered in an action filed by the attorney general, to the office of the attorney general to defray the costs of enforcement.

2. For civil penalties ordered in an action filed by the county attorney, to the office of the county treasurer for deposit in the county general fund.

I. On or after January 1, 2026, the civil penalties prescribed by subsection G of this section are supplementary to the provisions of this article.

J. On or after January 1, 2026, it is an affirmative defense in an action under this section that the employer complied in good faith with the requirements of 8 United States Code section 1324 (a) and (b). An employer is considered to have complied with the requirements of 8 United States Code section 1324 (a) and (b) notwithstanding an isolated, sporadic or accidental technical or procedural failure to meet the requirements if the employer made a good faith attempt to comply with the requirements. END_STATUTE

Sec. 5. Title 41, chapter 6, article 7.2, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding section 41-1080.02, to read:

START_STATUTE41-1080.02. Agencies; licenses; e-verify program; definitions

a. On or after January 1, 2026, notwithstanding any other law, any agency that issues licenses shall verify that the applicant that is seeking a license is lawfully present in the United States as authorized by federal law by using the e-verify program before issuing the document or license unless the applicant has provided the agency with employment authorization documents issued by the federal gOVERNMENT, and shall keep a record of the verification for at least three years.

b. for the purposes of this section:

1. "Agency" has the same meaning prescribed in section 41-1080.

2. "license" has the same meaning prescribed in section 41-1080. END_STATUTE

Sec. 6. Title 41, chapter 57, Arizona Revised Statutes, is amended by adding article 2, to read:

ARTICLE 2. PUBLIC PROGRAMS

START_STATUTE41-5911. E-verify program; public welfare monies; disbursement requirement; statewide concern; applicability; definition

A. On or after January 1, 2026, a state agency shall verify that an adult recipient is lawfully present in the United States under federal law by using the e-verify program before enrolling the recipient in a public welfare program unless state law expressly states that a person without lawful immigration status is eligible for the financial aid or benefit and shall keep a record of the verification for at least three years.

B. on or before January 1, 2029, each state agency shall use the e-verify program to confirm that each non-United States citizen who is receiving financial aid or any benefit through a public welfare program is lawfully present in the United States under federal law. If a state agency cannot verify the lawful presence of an adult RECIPIENT, the state agency shall PROMPTLY remove the RECIPIENT from the public welfare PROGRAM and discontinue the provision of financial aid or benefit to that recipient unless state law expressly states that a person without lawful immigration status is eligible for the financial aid or benefit.

c. Due to the economic and fiscal impact of illegal immigration on this state, regulation of eligibility for public welfare programs is a matter of statewide concern.

D. This section does not prohibit a city or town from administering federal monies to a recipient who is eligible for financial aid or benefits offered pursuant to a federal program.

E. For the purposes of this section, "Public welfare program" means any program administered by a state agency that provides an individual with financial aid in the amount of at least $500 per year or any benefit with a value of at LEAST $500 per year, including benefits that relate to health, disability, public or assisted housing, food assistance or unemployment.END_STATUTE

Sec. 7. Short title

This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Protecting Arizona Against Illegal Immigration Act".

2. The Secretary of State shall submit this proposition to the voters at the next general election as provided by article IV, part 1, section 1, Constitution of Arizona.