AIKEN, S.C. – Relying on human resources departments or a similar advisory service has become key to helping Aiken businesses navigate South Carolina's Illegal Immigration Reform Act.

The second round of a 2008 state law that went into effect July 1 requires all businesses to check new hires' legal status and fire any workers in the county illegally. The law previously applied only to companies with more than 100 employees.

Heath Taylor, of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce, said many of its small-business members began getting paperwork in order last year after the chamber held a seminar addressing the change in legislation.

Smaller shops without full-time human resources departments sought assistance in compliance checks from outside sources.

"I don't think this will be a big issue for the companies around here because many of them were already aware of the changes," Taylor says.

Employers are required to verify workers' legal status through a federal database called E-verify or hire only employees who have a valid South Carolina driver's license or approved identification from 26 other states with requirements as strict at South Carolina's.

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