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House passes Utah guest-worker measure after two-year waiver deadline and amendment
Summary
The Utah House passed a second-substitute version of House Bill 116 on Feb. 23, 2011, creating a state guest-worker permit and a two‑year window to seek federal waivers. Lawmakers debated constitutional risk, identity‑theft safeguards, tax-withholding mechanics and an amendment giving priority to federal applicants; the measure passed 43–28 and will go to the Senate.
Representative Ben Wright, sponsor of House Bill 116, asked the House to replace the bill with a second substitute and outlined a package he said was meant to create “a platform” the state could use to petition the federal government and other states for cooperative guest‑worker arrangements. The substitute creates an individual Utah guest‑worker permit, requires criminal background (BCI) checks and fingerprints under Workforce Services rulemaking, and limits eligibility (including an 18‑year minimum age and Utah residency), with renewals every two years.
Wright told colleagues the bill includes a two‑year period to seek federal waivers before the state would fully implement the program and that the proposal is…
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