House Judiciary Set to Take Up Immigration Bills
When the House of Representatives reconvenes next week some fireworks are bound to occur with the movement of the illegal immigration bills. Several different groups in the legislature have come with bills to deal with various aspects of illegal immigration in Alabama. As opposed to spreading out these bills over several committee days Rep. Marcel Black, who is chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, wisely decided to have a full public hearing on these bills on one day. In my opinion this was smart on his part and also fair to those people throughout the state who are very passionate about this issue but cannot afford to take off work for several days to spend in Montgomery.
This package includes several bills which are identical to bills that previously had a public hearing in the Senate. The bills will have a public hearing in the House at 9 am on Wednesday, March 26th. Below are the summary for the bills to be considered:
HB 727- Rep. Hammon- Alabama Development Office, economic incentives prohibited for employers employing illegal immigrants.
HB 664- Rep. Hinshaw- Illegal aliens, employment prohibited, duties to Revenue Commissioner to enforce, penalties imposed.
HB665- Rep. Lacy Baker- Aliens, illegal, transporting into the state alien who is illegally in United States, penalties imposed.
HB666- Rep. Lea Fite- Municipalities prohibited from passing laws or ordinances to protect illegal immigrants.
HB667- Rep. James Fields- Jail, jailors or others having custody of a person charged with a DUI, required to determine lawful citizenship of detainee.
HB298- Rep. Micky Hammon- Business or professional license, state prohibited from renewing license of person not lawfully and physically present in the United States.
HB302- Rep. Micky Hammon- Property of illegal aliens forfeited when arrested.
HBHB 303- Rep. Micky Hammon- Motor vehicle impounded when driving without a license or legal proof of citizenship or entry to U.S.
HB163- Rep. Micky Hammon- Proof of citizenship required for public benefits to be awarded to anyone 18 years of age or older.
HB720- Rep. Allen Treadaway- Requires employers to check citizenship status when an employee hired. Provides penalties for hiring someone in U.S. illegally. Provides penalties for transporting an illegal alien.
Most of these bills have been scheduled for a public hearing so it should make a for long committee meeting. Both sides have very passionate advocates for and against many of these bills. House Judiciary Committee already meets longer than any other committee so this guarantees and three hour meeting on the 26th. It will definitely liven the debate up some.
HB667 looks interesting, why require all detainees be questioned as to citizenship? The rest of the world generally does.
Comment by walt moffett — March 18, 2008 @ 8:40 pm
I hope the legislature will listen to the people and at least show up for the committee meeting this time. It was disgraceful to watch the senate committee where they could not even get enough people to show up for a vote.
Comment by Gov2010 — March 19, 2008 @ 9:43 am