I have indeed run into this before, and I'm happy to jump into the immigration debate. I worked for a Parks and Rec department (arts division) in eastern North Carolina (that shall remain nameless). I believe it was a state wide decision to implement e-verify. (E-verify requires any individual/business/company to "verify" that all of their employees have legal status.)
Some small, local vendors agreed, but the e-verify forms have some pretty serious sounding legal ramifications if it turns out the individual/business/company does indeed have undocumented workers. A large national company is not going to sign that form because they can't guarantee that all of its subsidiaries or independent contractors follow those guidelines. So, no more business with Walmart, or chain hardware stores, or grocery stores. Even Hobby Lobby refused to sign.
E-verify, in my less than humble opinion, is a fake solution to a problem that doesn't exist. Kind of like North Carolina's HB2 bill. It's a knee jerk reaction that causes more issues than it solves.
What ended up happening was a quick and quiet back-peddling. I'm pretty sure they worked in some back doors and exceptions for important vendors. You may have to fax forms to MTI and the like, and they may or may not sign. But go talk to someone in HR. I guarantee you the theater is not the only one facing this issue. Good luck.
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David Nields
Theater Director
Bradenton FL
Original Message:
Sent: 06-06-2016 15:06
From: Bob Ramseur
Subject: e-Verify
I need your help. I teach in a GA school system. Our state legislature has voted for e-Verify, a program in place in about 25% of he country that is supposed to verify that all employees are of legal immigration status. Now, our school system is interpreting a play/musical license as a contract entered into with a subcontractor who must therefore follow e-Verify guidelines. Since the state of New York has not implemented e-Verify, the regulations don't apply to them.
I'm not trying to start an immigration debate.
I do need to find out if anyone else is having this issue. From communicating with our reps at MTI, TRW, French, and such, they seem to have absolutely no idea what they are being asked to provide. I'm drawing the conclusion that no one else in the country is going through this.
If you have any experience with this issue, please let me know. I'd hate to stop having to produce musicals, given that the majority of the musical licensing houses are located in New York!
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Bob Ramseur
Newnan High School, Troupe 7132
Newnan GA
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