Social Security Legislative Bulletin

No: 108-14
Date: December 10, 2003

President Bush Signs into Law S. 1685, the Basic Pilot Program Extension and Expansion Act of 2003

On December 3, 2003, President Bush signed into law S. 1685, the Basic Pilot Program Extension and Expansion Act of 2003 (Public Law 108-156).

P.L. 108-156 extends and expands the pilot programs for employment eligibility verification instituted by Public Law 104-208, which included the Illegal Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996. The new law (P.L. 108-156):

• Extends the operation of the pilot programs for an additional 5 years (to a total of 11 years), and
• Expands the operation of the pilot programs to all fifty States not later than December 1, 2004. This law provides that employers in all States must be able to participate in the pilot program.

In addition, P.L. 108-156 requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to complete and submit to the Committees on the Judiciary of the House and Senate not later than June 1, 2004 a report describing any additional actions the Secretary need take before undertaking the expansion of the program.

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