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Utah Senate advances broad immigration measure after heated debate; delay amendment fails
Summary
After hours of debate on workplace verification, public benefits and enforcement, the Utah Senate rejected a motion to delay Senate Bill 81 and approved the bill on third reading. Lawmakers pressed the sponsor on E-Verify, landlord and employer liability, and possible federal preemption concerns.
The Utah Senate voted to advance Senate Bill 81, an immigration enforcement and verification package, after extended floor debate that lasted several hours and included a failed effort to delay the law’s effective date.
Senator Daniel Hickman, sponsor of SB81, urged the chamber to act now, saying the state cannot wait for federal action to address what he described as mounting local problems. “The people of the state, based on the latest polling, are overwhelmingly, concerned about this issue and want action taken,” Hickman said during his summation.
The chamber first considered Amendment No. 2 offered by Senator Jenkins to delay the bill’s effective date by one year (to July 1, 2009) to allow a newly proposed task force time to study implementation and consequences. Jenkins said the delay was intended to give the task force a better chance to work and to avoid passing a sweeping measure with limited study. “My purpose is simply to allow the task force to work for a year,” Jenkins said.
Senator Hickman opposed the delay, arguing agencies need time now to prepare and that the bill should…
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