Immigration verification bill adopted

May 14, 2008 | 08:41 AM The Suffolk County Legislature has approved a controversial bill requiring subcontractors to verify the immigration status of their employees. The legislation, introduced by Leg. Brian Beedenbender (D-Centereach), was approved Tuesday at the William H. Rogers Building in Smithtown by an odd 12-3-1-1 vote: 12 legislators in favor, three opposed, one abstention and one lawmaker, Leg. Ricardo Montano (D-Central Islip), who "refused to participate in the debate," according to a release from the office of Presiding Officer Bill Lindsay. Beedenbender maintains the law, which requires contractors such as plumbers and electricians to verify their employees are in the country legally to qualify for county contracts, will even the odds for contractors who hire legal employees and pay worker's compensation and other worker taxes. Montano had petitioned against the bill, contending it passed out of the Legislature's Consumer Protection Committee on an improper vote. Majority Leader Jon Cooper (D-Huntington), who previously called the verification portion of Beedenbender's bill "unenforceable," voted against, as did Legs. Vivian Viloria-Fisher (D-Setauket) and Thomas Barraga (R-West Islip). Leg. Kate Browning (WF-Shirley) abstained. Also Tuesday, the Legislature approved a resolution introduced by Leg. Jay Schneiderman (R-Montauk) to prohibit Suffolk drivers from text messaging or e-mailing while operating a motor vehicle. Schneiderman said he began checking the legality of "texting" while driving in January 2007, when a friend was involved in a car accident linked to text messaging. "This groundbreaking law continues the long tradition of Suffolk County taking the lead in adopting innovative and important legislation that sets an example for the rest of the nation," Schneiderman said in a release announcing the vote. The law, approved 15-1-1, includes exceptions for messages composed via voice-recognition technology. Violations carry fines of up to $150. County Executive Steve Levy has 30 days to hold public hearings and then approve or veto the bills. The texting ban would go into effect 90 days after filing with the secretary of the State of New York and the worker's bill 120 days after filing, according to the presiding officer's office. — Gregory Zeller