Online extra: States weigh offshore outsourcing limits

These 19 states are considering bills to restrict and regulate offshore contracting and call centers:

California: AB 1845, introduced Jan. 29, mandates that state contracts require the work to be done by citizens or legal residents.

Colorado: SB 169 would bar companies in the state that have sent 100 or more jobs offshore in the past year from receiving state contracts, grants, loans or industrial development bonds. The prohibition would last for seven years.

SB 170, the Keep Jobs in Colorado Act, would require bidders for state contracts to provide goods and services from domestic sites. The bill was referred to the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee on Feb. 9.

Indiana: SB 4 requires work under state contracts signed after June 30 to be performed domestically, and that contractors keep records of the immigration or citizenship status of employees. The Senate passed the bill Feb. 2.

HB 1101 would require state agencies to specify that only U.S. citizens and those authorized to work in the country may be employed under state contracts.

HB 1275 would give a 10 percent preference to contractors based in Indiana when state agencies evaluate bids. It also bars contracting for work done by persons who are not citizens or legal residents.

HB 1381 would require work contracted by state agencies to be performed by citizens and legal residents.

All four bills are being considered by the House Committee on Appointments and Claims.

Kansas: HB 2524, the American Jobs Act, would restrict the activities of foreign contractors in state procurement. It was referred to the House Labor and Commerce Committeeon Jan. 16.

Maryland: HB 183 would bar state agencies from awarding contracts for work to be performed outside the country, with some exceptions.

Michigan: HB 4940 calls for state contracts to be awarded only to citizens or legal residents. The Government Operations Committee is considering the bill.

Mississippi: HB 464 would prohibit contract awards to companies that employ workers who are not citizens or legal residents. The bill was referred to the House Appropriations Committee on Jan. 20.

Missouri: SB 1029 would forbid the award of state contracts or subcontracts to companies that perform the work outside the country. The proposal would establish penalties and require termination of contracts if vendors transfer work outside the country. After a second reading, the bill was referred to the Senate Financial and Governmental Committee on Jan. 20.

Nebraska: LB 1233 would forbid the award of contracts for offshore work.

New Jersey: AB 840 and SB 370 call for employees of inbound call centers to provide information about their physical location and their employer.

SB 494 would require state contracts to specify that work be performed by citizens or persons authorized to work in the country. The Senate State Government Committee took up the bill Jan. 13.

New Mexico: Under SB 416, state contracts would allow only citizens and legal residents to be employed by contractors or subcontractors.

New York: AB 1092 would forbid state agencies and contractors from providing job training services to persons who are not citizens or legal residents.

North Carolina: Under SB 911 state agencies could not award contracts for work to be performed overseas. The Senate passed the bill, which is pending in House.

Rhode Island: HB 5678 would establish a procedure for state agencies to follow before they contract for programs and services provided out-of-state.

South Carolina: HB 4434 calls for state contracts for telemarketing work to specify that the work be performed in this country and that only citizens and persons with valid work permits could be employed. The House Committee on Labor, Commerce and Industry took up the measure Jan. 13.

Tennessee: SB 2344 would require that companies holding state service contracts employ only citizens or legal residents. The bill was referred to the Senate State and Local Government Committee on Jan. 26.

Utah: SB 199, introduced Jan. 30, would regulate outsourcing of state jobs.

Washington: HB 2351 would regulate and restrict overseas call centers and require telemarketing workers to provide information about their location and employer to callers. HB 2405 calls for service contracts to be performed by citizens or legal residents. Under HB 2768, state contractors would have to employ only citizens and legal residents. The House Commerce and Labor Committee is considering all three bills.

Wisconsin: SB 389 generally would require work performed under state contracts to be carried out in this country, with limited exceptions. The Committee on Homeland Security, Veterans and Military Affairs, and Government Reform took up the measure Jan. 14.

Source: National Conference of State Legislatures