Alabama Senate panel OKs Sen. Scott Beason version of revised immigration bill Pu

Alabama Senate panel OKs Sen. Scott Beason version of revised immigration bill
Published: Tuesday, April 24, 2012, 3:35 PM
Kim Chandler -- Montgomery Bureau By Kim Chandler -- Montgomery Bureau

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Sen. Scott Beason Sen. Scott Beason's version of a bill to revise Alabama's immigration law has won approval from a Senate committee. (The Birmingham News file)

MONTGOMERY, Alabama -- An Alabama Senate committee this afternoon approved a version of an immigration bill that would leave much of the state's original 2011 law intact.

"The Senate version addresses just the issues that have caused the most concern," said Sen. Scott Beason, R-Gardendale.

"It's very limited in scope compared to what the House version was," Beason said.

The bill by Beason would make fewer changes to the state's immigration law than a House-sponsored version by Rep. Micky Hammon, R-Decatur.

Beason said he believes if Alabama changes its immigration law too much than it would risk starting legal challenges anew. But critics said the bill did not go far enough to remedy problems caused by the immigration law.

"I don't think this bill really fixes anything," Sen. Linda Coleman, D-Birmingham, said.

The Senate Job Creation and Economic Development Committee voted 7-1 for the bill, sending it to the Senate for consideration.

Beason's bill would limit when people have to present proof of citizenship for business transactions with local governments, clarify that a military identification was proof of citizenship and make other changes.

Beason's bill would not alter the "reasonable suspicion" provision of the law that allows officers to question and possibly detain suspected illegal immigrants during traffic stops.

The House-passed version would limit that that to when a traffic citation is issued or when an arrest is made and also specify that passengers could be questioned under certain circumstances.

Beason said the state's existing "reasonable suspicion" provision is nearly identical to Arizona's immigration law. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments regarding Arizona's law tomorrow.

"I think Arizona is going to win that," Beason said.

Beason's bill would also not do away with a requirement school systems collect data from students about their immigration status.

Both Hammon and Beason worked on the original 2011 law. Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said last week that his preference is to work with the House version.

Beason said he doesn't care whose name is on the final product.

"I'm more concerned with the substance of the legislation," Beason said.

Alabama Senate panel OKs Sen. Scott Beason version of revised immigration bill | al.com

Go Alabama! Fight illegal immigration with all that you can! The nation is with you and Arizona and the other brave states leading the way against the illegal immigrant invasion of America!

W

GO GO GO Alabama! Sounds like Beason's bill is the best and I hope the Senate approves it, the House accepts it, and the Governor signs it. Stay the course States. The future of immigration enforcement in the US is with you, the States, and the People in whom all wisdom rests and the future of our country resides.

Alabama attorney general says wait on rewriting immigration law
Published: Friday, April 27, 2012, 9:00 AM
Kim Chandler -- Montgomery Bureau By Kim Chandler -- Montgomery Bureau
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Luther StrangeAlabama Attorney General Luther Strange says he believes any rewrite of the immigration law will result in new or additional litigation. (AP Photo/Dave Martin)

MONTGOMERY -- Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange said he believes Alabama should hold off on changes to its immigration law until the U.S. Supreme Court rules on Arizona's similar law this summer.

"My recommendation would be to wait until the court rules in the Arizona case before we make any changes to our law," Strange said Thursday. The attorney general made the comment as he left Washington after watching Wednesday's verbal arguments in the Arizona case.

Strange, who has been defending Alabama's 2011 law, said he believes any rewrite will result in new or additional litigation. Because of that, Strange said he thought it would be best to wait and see what guidance the high court gives states regarding immigration. A ruling is expected in June.

"I think we are going to know the law in two months," Strange said.

The Republican attorney general's view is at odds with Republican legislative leaders who have been working on a rewrite of Alabama's law. The Alabama Senate is expected to vote Tuesday on a bill already approved by the House of Representatives.

Strange said he was only speaking his opinion as the lawyer tasked with defending state statutes.

"I'm not telling the Legislature what to do. That is their call," Strange said.

Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard, R-Auburn, said Thursday that lawmakers do not plan to wait.

"The changes we have made we are confident don't have any impact at all on the Arizona decision. But they are important to us because we want to make the changes to make the law more enforceable and eliminate any additional unnecessary work that we've imposed on law-abiding citizens," Hubbard said.

Hubbard said waiting wasn't practical given that legislators don't go back into regular session until February. Revisions before then would require a special session called by the governor.

Strange in December made suggested changes to the law. However, that was shortly before the Supreme Court announced it would review the Arizona law.

"This latest change of heart comes awfully late in the process as the bill could become law in a matter of days. In any case, the speaker has grown weary of learning of the attorney general's change of legal opinions through the news media," Hubbard spokesman Todd Stacy said.

Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said he learned of Strange's statement through the press and "having worked with his office over the past few months on potential revisions, this does seem a bit inconsistent."

However, Strange said his office was not closely involved in the drafting of either bill.

Strange said he thought questions the justices asked during verbal arguments in the Arizona case bode well for Alabama and other states that have similar laws.

"In my judgment the majority of the court felt there was absolutely a role the state could play," Strange said.

One of the sponsors of the original law said he was pleased to hear Strange said he thought waiting was the wise choice.

"What I've been telling anyone who will listen is if we change anything substantially, it's going back through the (court) system," Sen. Scott Beason , R-Gardendale, said.

Strange has had issues with lawmakers already this session.

The House of Representatives approved a budget that zero-funds the attorney general's office. The budget chairman said that was a mistake because he mistakenly thought the office had money available to it from a mortgage fraud settlement.

A proposed amendment to restore funding was withdrawn on the House floor, after House members said they had questions for Strange.

Alabama attorney general says wait on rewriting immigration law | al.com

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