3 New Laws In PA, Including SSN Enforcement For Workers

HARRISBURG, PA — Two bills were signed into law Friday by Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. Another bill — one that requires construction industry employers to verify the Social Security numbers of all employees, became law without the governor's signature.

Wolf signed House Bill 318, which makes amendments to the Telemarketer Registration Act. He also signed House Bill 1557, which amends regulations for coal refuse disposal.

Under House Bill 318, telephone solicitation on legal holidays is prohibited. The law also creates a legal procedure for the use of robocalls.

Under the new law, robocalls must include a method for the recipient to opt out of telephone solicitation calls that is clearly stated at the beginning of the call. Additionally, a robocall leaving a voicemail must provide a toll-free telephone number that the recipient can call to opt-out of further calls, according to information from the Governor's office.

House Bill 1557 removes the current one-year cessation limit and requires temporary cessation of coal refuse disposal areas to conform to federal regulations under the federal Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 197.

Further, it requires new coal refuse disposal areas to have a water contamination prevention system and allow for revegetation and prevention of erosion. It allows for the Department of Environmental Protection to make regulations to provide for the connection of coal refuse or related material to the coal refuse disposal area.

House Bill 1170, which regulates construction employee Social Security number verification, is law but Wolf chose not to sign or veto it. That bill expands the mandatory use of E-Verify to employers in the construction industry to flag immigrants working illegally in Pennsylvania.

Under the new law, violators would first receive a warning letter. After a second violation, the case will be referred to the Attorney General for enforcement. "The Attorney General shall bring an action against the employer in the county where the unauthorized employee is or was employed by the employer," the law says.

In an interview with 90.5, Pittsburgh's NPR station, Wolf said the decision on whether to sign or veto the law was difficult.

“On the one hand, you have concerns about what this does to immigrants, people who come to the country looking for opportunity or asylum. On the other hand, it’s a legitimate attempt to protect the legitimate rights of workers who want to make sure that their jobs aren’t being taken away by someone who might be working for an unscrupulous contractor who would be paying them less than they deserve to get paid.”