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New Georgia Immigration Law Affects School District Purchasing

By Robert Morales posted 01-02-2014 14:13

  

On December 23, 2013, the Atlanta Journal Constitution (AJC) ran a front page article about how Georgia's new immigration law is impacting schools  when purchasing services greater than $2,499.99.  It applies to all funds (federal, state, local and student activity funds) and involves the requirements of affidavits from vendors regarding the use of the Fed's E-Verify program.  The use of E-Verify for employment and construction programs at a school district is not unusual in Georgia.  The new requirement that every expenditure for services (bid and/or contracted ) greater than $2,499 receive notarized vendor affidavits prior to receipt of services affects everything  including yearbooks, travel, athletic officiating, traffic control, etc.  Locally, it greatly impacts the 100 schools in the Fulton County School District as current procurement policy doesn't require involvement of the District's Contracting Services Department until a purchase exceeds $10,000.  The new law requires Georgia school districts to report annually to the State Auditor's Office details of  service expenditures greater than the $2,499.99 threshold to insure compliance with the law.  This reporting is performed the District's Contracting Department.

 

 

The article can be found at the AJC website  http://www.myajc.com/news/news/complications-from-immigration-law-cause-headaches/ncPCm/

  or http://shar.es/9sjOm
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01-04-2014 23:08

This new immigration law is an incredible work load issue for Georgia schools. The $10,000 threshold is a reasonable level for schools and departments to purchase without the need for the Contracting Services Department to provide support. I appreciate your willingness to bring the issue forward to the national/international level. We can learn from one another. This contradicts the efforts made to promote minority, women and emerging small business contractors in Oregon. I imagine we could have the same issues come up here.