"Governor Barbour Signs Mississippi Employment Protection Act" Into Law
On March 17, 2008, Governor Haley Barbour signed the “Mississippi Employment Protection Act” into law. The law covers every employer in Mississippi and mandates that they shall register with and use the E-Verify status verification system in hiring new employees. The requirement takes effect on July 1, 2008, for all Mississippi covered entities with 250 or more employees. Employers with fewer employees must comply by July 1, 2009, July 1, 2010, or July 1, 2011, depending upon the size of the employer. Failure to comply may result in specified penalties, monetary fines, and imprisonment. The law will be enforced by several state agencies, including the Department of Employment Security, State Tax Commission, Office of the Secretary of State, Department of Human Services and the Office of the Attorney General.
