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Panel endorses illegal immigration bill Wednesday, Jan 24, 2007 By Rob Moritz Arkansas News Bureau LITTLE ROCK - A House committee Tuesday endorsed legislation that would prohibit state agencies from contracting with businesses that employ illegal immigrants. The House Committee on Public Health, Welfare and Labor last week voted down the measure by Rep. Rick Green, R-Van Buren. Green's amended version won the committee's endorsement on a 17-2 vote. The amendment replaced language in the original bill that would strip state business from a "contractor who knows or show know" an illegal immigrant is on the payroll with a provision that would terminate the contract only if the contractor knew an illegal was hired. House Bill 1024 now goes to the House for consideration. Green told fellow lawmakers that the proposal would let taxpayers know that the state is following federal law, which denies federal contracts to firms that hire illegal immigrants. "I am trying to deliver a message to taxpayers of the state that we are accountable under the law," Green said, noting similar laws have been passed in Colorado and Pennsylvania. "As a state representative, I am charged with overseeing the accountability of state tax dollars." Rita Sklar, executive director of the Arkansas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, questioned a section in the bill, which she said would require contractors and subcontractors doing work for the state to verify the status of a worker by checking the name against a federal database. She said the database, known as "Basic Pilot Program," has been found to have numerous errors. "I think this is a serious problem," Sklar said, adding that someone could be incorrectly labeled an illegal immigrant based on information being incorrectly input in the identification system. Green told the committee that the bill did not mandate contractors use the Basic Pilot Program. Rep. Stephanie Flowers, D-Pine Bluff, also spoke against the bill. "My sense is that this is a federal issue and should be treated as a federal issue ... and given to Congress," she said. Rep. Willie Hardy, D-Camden, said he wished Green's bill targeted all contractors doing business in Arkansas and not just those doing business in the state. The committee also endorsed House Bill 1131 by Rep. Sandra Prater, D-Jacksonville, which would establish the Arkansas Legislative Commission Traumatic Brain Injury, was recommended by the committee. The commission would work to develop a statewide plan to make sure there are enough people in the state to treat traumatic brain injuries and provide rehabilitation services, Prater said. The committee was told that about 3,000 people in Arkansas suffer traumatic brain injuries annually. |
