The success of the bill is a lesson in state-industry cooperation. Sen. Bill Jackson (R) sponsored the bill after Len Collins, president of the Georgia State Floral Distributors in Augusta, Ga., presented the issue to the lawmaker. "Sen. Jackson should really be applauded for his efforts to pass this bill," Collins said. "As a fellow business owner, he recognized these dishonest practices when he saw them."

Collins gave Jackson copies of bills passed in other states, and the Georgia bill was eventually framed after legislation that had passed in Virginia in 1996.

"(We need to show customers) that if they talk to a brick-and-mortar shop, they're going to be happier, get a better deal and get fresher flowers," Collins said.

To find out more about how deceptive advertising laws get passed, visit www.safnow.org/deceptivelistings, or e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Read the most recent statement from Sec. of Labor Hilda Solis on the misclassification of employees. Here is the link to the statement here.

SAF's Legislative Resource Center has plenty of useful information on the current status of immigration reform bills in Congress. Make sure you keep it tuned to Capitol Letters and also Washintong Week in Review for further updates.

Minnesota recently joined the ranks of other states with deceptive advertising laws on their books. On April 15, Governnor Tim Pawlenty signed HF 3277, which outlawed deceptive advertising practices in printed publications, datbases and on the internet.

SAF member florists in Minnesota worked with members of the Minnesota Retail Federation to advance this bill through the state assembly all the way to the governor's desk. After almost a year of work, the bill was finally signed and will go into effect on August 1, 2010.

Interested to find out if your state has a deceptive advertising law on the books? Check out SAF's Legislative Resource Center to find the list of other states with something similar.

We know that Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) made two major pushes into I-9 (employment eligibility documentation) enforcement in 2009. Based on their public statements, including those made at the National Council of Agricultural Employers, Annual Meeting in January we have every reason to believe ICE will continue to audit all employers, and that agriculture is one of the industries that may receive high priority. It is critical that all employers fill out I-9 Forms promptly, correctly, and accurately. Here is the link to the CURRENT I-9 form with the government's instruction sheet.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are expected to maintain and even increase pressure on employers in 2010. Below are the E-verify instructions for your reference. If you are the target of an ICE audit, E-verify remains one of the few positive defenses.

DHS announced a few weeks ago, "Initiatives to enhance E-Verify." As we read ‘between-the-lines' it seems there is likely to be increased enforcement on the improper use of E-Verify, and increased emphasis on discrimination allegations.  See the DHS announcement here.

Additionally, we have found a link to a short YouTube type video in the USCIS website that walks you through the use of E-Verify specifies when it can (and cannot) be used and  how to link your use of E-Verify to the I-9 form.

Remember that except where it may be required in certain federal government supplier contracts, you may NOT e-verify existing employees or use E-Verify as a screening tool prior to hiring. See the government's information and instruction site for use of E-Verify.