Ohio House Commerce & Labor Testimony — Lake Erie Electric on House Bill 327

Summary

Letter dated April 15, 2024, addressed to Chairman Mark Johnson and members of the House Commerce & Labor Committee, stating Lake Erie Electric's support for House Bill 327. Ric Bonfiglio, Senior Vice President of Lake Erie Electric, writes that the company has operated in Ohio and surrounding states since 1952. The letter states that HB 327 requires E-Verify employment verification use by a specific segment of non-residential construction contractors and describes E-Verify as free and jointly administered by the United States Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration. It urges the Ohio House of Representatives to implement the E-Verify requirements of HB 327.

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Full text

April 15, 2024

Chairman Mark Johnson

Ohio House Commerce & Labor Committee
41 S. High Street

Columbus, OH 43215



Chairman Johnson, Vice Chair Manchester, Ranking Member McNally, and members of
the House Commerce & Labor Committee:


I’m writing to voice my company’s support for House Bill 327. My name is Ric Bonfiglio Senior Vice
President for Lake Erie Electric. Our company has been in operation in Ohio and surrounding states
since 1952, and we currently have 8 offices across our state. I’m proud to say that throughout our years
in business, we have become a leader in our highly competitive markets, providing electrical
construction services to industry leaders in the power generation and energy sector, the manufacturing
and industrial sector, and in Ohio’s emerging high-tech and mission-critical sectors.



Lake Erie Electric provides this testimony in support of House Bill 327. By requiring E-Verify
employment verification use by a very specific segment of non-residential construction contractors
operating in the state of Ohio, HB 327 levels the playing field for Ohio-based businesses that operate
in compliance with existing immigration and labor law.



Our company uses E-Verify, an internet-based system that is jointly administered by the United States
Department of Homeland Security and Social Security Administration, to determine new employees’
employment eligibility. It is user-friendly system for human resources and hiring staff; E-Verify simply
automates and expedites existing hiring verification processes. E-Verify is free for companies to use.



Across the state of Ohio, in every market in which Lake Erie Electric competes, we have for years
worked hard to overcome the unfair advantage of companies that exploit and traffic undocumented
workers. HB 327 protects our company’s ability to operate in fair and free competition in full compliance
with immigration and labor law.
I believe that the narrow requirements of HB 327 provide reasonable protections for law-abiding non-
residential construction contractors and vulnerable workers who are at risk of exploitation by labor
traffickers. Until E-Verify is required in Ohio, construction businesses that follow immigration law will
face an unfair disadvantage bidding on projects in our state. This bill provides a reasonable solution for
Ohio business owners and the public.



Our company urges the Ohio House of Representatives to implement reasonable E-Verify
requirements of HB 327. Thank you for your consideration.




Thanks,



Ric Bonfiglio
Senior Vice President
Lake Erie Electric of Toledo, Inc.
12763 Middleton Pike
Bowling Green, OH 43402
Phone: (419) 352-7141 Fax: (419) 373-1940
RBonfiglio@LakeErieElectric.com


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