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Committee reconsiders and adopts SB 20 57 with amendments narrowing cooperation with federal immigration agents
Summary
On reconsideration the Senate Judiciary Committee adopted SB 20 57 with amendments that restrict state assistance to federal immigration agents to situations required by federal law and enumerate First Amendment protections for protests and recording law enforcement.
The committee reconsidered SB 20 57 at the 10:05 agenda after the chair said prior concurrence from other chairs allowed a new set of amendments. Chair said the bill "prohibits law enforcement officers from using any personal or funds originating in the state to assist or facilitate conduct by federal immigration agents that exceed their law enforcement duties or authority" while making clear state and local agencies must cooperate where federal law requires.
The chair said amendments will define terms such as "law enforcement officer," "federal immigration agents," and when "assist" or "facilitate" exceeds federal authority, and that the bill will enumerate First Amendment activities (nonviolent protest and recording law enforcement activity) that should not be targeted. The chair also said the committee would scrub language that could be interpreted as obstructing federal activity and focus on local enforcement responsibilities.
Following the chair's explanation, the clerk recorded the committee's recommendation to pass SB 20 57 with amendments and the measure was adopted.
The committee's action sends the amended bill forward; the committee report will contain the agreed definitions and clarifying language about required cooperation with federal authorities.
