285.025.  Employers of illegal aliens ineligible for state economic incentives, right of appeal, criminal penalties. — 1.  The state of Missouri hereby proclaims that no employer who employs illegal aliens shall be eligible for any state-administered or subsidized tax credit, tax abatement or loan from this state.  The director of each agency administering or subsidizing a tax credit, tax abatement or loan pursuant to chapter 32, 100, 135, 253, 447 or 620 shall place in such agency's criteria for eligibility for such credit, abatement, exemption or loan a signed statement of affirmation by the applicant that such applicant employs no illegal aliens.  Any individual, individual proprietorship, corporation, partnership, firm or association that is found by the director of the agency administering the program to have negligently employed an illegal alien in this state shall be ineligible for any state-administered or subsidized tax credit, tax abatement or loan pursuant to chapter 32, 100, 135, 253, 447 or 620 for five years following such determination; provided, however, that the director of the agency administering such credit, abatement, exemption or loan may, in the director's discretion, elect not to apply such administrative action for a first-time occurrence.  Any person, corporation, partnership or other legal entity that is found to be ineligible for a state-administered or subsidized tax credit, tax abatement, or loan pursuant to this subsection may make an appeal with the administrative hearing commission pursuant to the provisions of chapter 621.  "Negligent", for the purposes of this subsection means that a person has failed to take the steps necessary to comply with the requirements of 8 U.S.C. 1324a with respect to the examination of an appropriate document or documents to verify whether the individual is an unauthorized alien.

  2.  Beginning August 28, 1999, any individual, individual proprietorship, corporation, partnership, firm or association that knowingly accepts any state-administered or subsidized tax credit, tax abatement or loan in violation of subsection 1 of this section shall upon conviction be guilty of a class A misdemeanor, and such action may be brought by the attorney general in Cole County circuit court.