On May 13, 2008, the Colorado Legislature revised the Colorado Public Contractor Rule allowing contractors with public services contracts with the state, or political subdivisions within the state of Colorado, to choose between using E-Verify, or a newly created program through the Colorado Department of Labor, called the “Department Program.” Either of these programs can be used to verify that newly hired workers working on public service contracts are authorized to work.

The Department Program requires contractors to notify the Colorado Department of Labor that they will be participating in the program by completing a form that is available online for this purpose. Under the Department Program, the contractor must affirm within 20 days of hiring a new employee that the contractor has examined the legal work status of the new employee. The contractor must retain file copies of the documents required under Colorado law and not alter or falsify any of these documents. The contractor must then fill out an affirmation that must be notarized and submitted to the contracting state agency or political subdivision.

The affirmation and participation forms are available at http://www.coworkforce.com/LAB/pcs/. Once completed, the forms must be submitted to the contracting state agency or political subdivision.