Idaho committee debates bill to collect students' immigration status; motions tie twice

Summary

Lawmakers debated RS 32,405, a proposal to require schools that receive state money to record and report students' immigration status and nationality. Committee members raised constitutional, privacy and cost concerns; two motions on the measure each resulted in 7-7 ties and the bill did not advance.

Representative Steve Tanner asked the Idaho House Education Committee to introduce RS 32,405, a proposal that would add a new chapter to Title 33 requiring schools and districts that receive state funds to record students' immigration status and nationality and to aggregate and make that information public.

The proposal drew sustained questioning from committee members about feasibility, cost, privacy and constitutional authority. “I anticipate this is just internal workings from staff that is already in our schools,” Tanner said, adding enrollment paperwork would be the vehicle for collecting documentation. Tanner said the status categories would align with the Immigration and Nationality Act.

Committee members repeatedly pressed the sponsor on implementation and on the stated purpose. “How did you arrive at the conclusion that collecting the immigration status and nationality of probably just…

Idaho committee debates bill to collect students' immigration status; motions tie twice

Summary

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