House Bill No. [insert bill number] aims to prohibit the hiring, recruiting, referring, or employing of aliens who are not lawfully authorized to accept employment in Montana. The bill amends Section 39-2-305 of the Montana Code Annotated, changing the language from "No employer" to "A person" and expanding the scope of prohibited actions to include not only employment but also hiring, recruiting, and referring. It establishes a system of penalties for violations, including the suspension or revocation of licenses for varying periods based on the number of violations, and introduces statutory damages for individuals harmed by such violations. The bill also allows for enforcement actions by the attorney general, county attorneys, or the Department of Labor.

Additionally, the bill includes provisions for the revocation and suspension of licenses without the need for a hearing, mandates that licensing authorities implement these actions promptly, and prohibits the issuance of new licenses during the suspension or revocation period. It appropriates funds from the general fund to the Department of Justice for investigating and prosecuting violations of this law. The bill also includes definitions for terms such as "E-Verify" and "license," and establishes that if any part of the act is found invalid, the remaining provisions will still be in effect.

Statutes affected:
LC Text: 39-2-305
HB0536_1(1): 39-2-305
HB0536_1(2): 39-2-305
HB0536_1(3): 39-2-305
HB0536_1(4): 39-2-305
HB0536_1(5): 39-2-305
HB0536_1: 39-2-305
HB0536_2(1): 39-2-305
HB0536_2(2): 39-2-305
HB0536_2(3): 39-2-305
HB0536_2(4): 39-2-305
HB0536_2(5): 39-2-305
HB0536_2(6): 39-2-305
HB0536_2(7): 39-2-305
HB0536_2(8): 39-2-305
HB0536_2(9): 39-2-305
HB0536_2: 39-2-305