AP: Alabama agencies not in compliance with Immigration Law

ANNISTON, Ala. (AP) — Many state licensing boards have not yet complied with a requirement in Alabama's immigration law to verify the status of legal immigrants by using a federal database. A state official tracking compliance told The Anniston Star that few, if any, of the state's dozens of professional licensing board have been cleared to use the federal government's Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements. The law requires them to use the system to verify that legal status. John Norris of the Examiners of Public Accounts says the applications are filed with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, but it's taking considerable time to get them cleared. The Alabama Board of Nursing filed its application in October 2011 and got approval earlier this month.