BC 2006 01 23 REGULAR - Laserfiche WebLink

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January 23, 2006 - Regular Meeting Page 478 A. with respect to nonprofit charitable organizations which the county contracts for the provision of services, permissible methodology for obtaining sufficient identifying information about service recipients to enable the County to verify their qualified alien status; B. Imposing requirement on for-profit persons or entities from whom the county contracts goods or services (including services rendered to members of the public) to verify the eligibility under PRWORA of their employees (third party services recipients) and disqualifying any contractor from County business for failure to meet such requirements; and C. To review the feasibility of requiring all Cabarrus County employers work with the US Department of Homeland Security 1 s newly created program which is designed to stop illegal aliens from getting jobs and allows for the verification of employees' identity and in particular social security numbers. Chairman Carruth agreed the issue of illegal immigrants was a significant one but questioned the proposed Resolution and the possibility of overstepping the bounds of state and federal government. He suggested the establishment of an immigration study commission such as the one established by Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. vice Chairman Juba also agreed that illegal immigration was an issue that needed to be addressed. She reported she had talked with Bill Meek (immigration representative for Senator Elizabeth Dole) and with Representative Robin Hayes and received correspondence from Representative Howard Coble on this issue. She stated she had been told there were several bills pending in the Senate that ranged from deportation to amnesty. Also, she pointed out illegal immigration was not only a funding issue, but a social issue. vice Chairman Juba suggested that a diverse group, including representatives from law enforcement, human services, education, etc., be appointed to study this issue and develop a solution as to how Cabarrus County can make sure County tax dollars were not spent in an inappropriate way as it applies to illegal immigration. Chairman Carruth asked Commissioner Privette if he would consider Vice Chairman Juba's proposal to establish a commission as an addition to his motion. Commissioner Privette declined to amend his motion. He stated the County Manager and County Attorney could consult with others in fulfilling the direction of the Resolution but a study committee would delay the issue six months or a year. During further discussion, the Board addressed the following issues: (1) Steps that business owners should take to verify that persons hired by them are not illegal immigrants; (2) Need for assurances that local tax money was not going to be used to give illegal immigrants a job, specifically on the jail project; and (3) the specified GO-day time frame for a report back to the Board. The vote on the motion by Commissioner Privette was as follows: voting for: Commissioner Privette and Commissioner Freeman Voting against: Chairman Carruth and vice Chairman Juba UPON MOTION of Chairman Carruth, seconded by Vice Chairman Juba and unanimously carried, the Board directed the County Manager to meet with the cross -cutting issues study group (Social Services Director, Aging Director, Cabarrus Health Alliance Director, piedmont Behavioral Healthcare Area Director and Cabarrus County and Kannapolis City School Superintendents) to discuss the formation of a task force to study the immigration issue and to report back to the Board by the April meeting. John Day, County Manager, pointed out that he has no control over the persons in the study group. Chairman Carruth acknowledged that the Aging Director was the only one in the group that reports to the County Manager. (G-10) Consideration of Items at Agenda Work Sessions Commissioner Privette stated the Board's Agenda sessions were set up to plan the Board's agenda. He made a MOTION that the Agenda work sessions be