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Committee advances bill barring people not legally present in U.S. from receiving state tax dollars; some members seek more review
Summary
Senate Bill 151 would bar recipients of Kentucky tax dollars from being persons not legally present in the United States; the Senate committee advanced the bill while several members said they needed more time to verify how state payments to contractors are screened.
Senate Bill 151, introduced by Senator Wheeler, would bar recipients of Kentucky tax dollars from being persons not legally present in the United States. The sponsor said the measure is intended to prevent state tax dollars from being paid to undocumented workers on state projects and directed the Office of Homeland Security to investigate state worksites for compliance.
“Those who are legally present in The United States Of America shall not be the recipient of tax dollars appropriated by the general assembly,” Senator Wheeler said in opening remarks.
Committee members questioned how the statute would operate in practice. Senator Gates asked whether the bill would bar payments made to corporations that subsequently employ undocumented workers or whether it would only target individuals contracting directly with the state; the sponsor responded that he intended it to prohibit both.
Some committee members said they supported the bill’s premise but wanted more time to examine whether state payment mechanisms currently result in tax dollars going to undocumented workers. Senator Wise voiced concern about voting without first verifying whether the problem exists in the way the bill assumes; he said he would vote no to give himself time to review the evidence. Senator Howe likewise asked for time to “dive into” contract and appropriation mechanisms.
Despite those reservations, the committee advanced SB 151 with a favorable recommendation.
Provenance: SB 151 is introduced in the transcript at the segment beginning with Senator Wheeler presenting the bill (around 00:09:06) and ends when the clerk records that SB 151 passed with favorable expression and the committee proceeds to the next bill (segment around 00:13:50).
