Thread: Arizona House signals support for day labor bill

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Arizona House signals support for day labor bill

PHOENIX -- The Arizona House narrowly gave preliminary approval Thursday to a proposal that would prohibit people from standing on public streets and sidewalks for the purpose of offering or soliciting day labor work.


The proposed prohibition also would apply to people who offer or solicit day labor work on private property after the property owner asks them to leave.

Day labor has been criticized at the Legislature in recent years. A 2005 law barred local governments from putting taxpayer money into day labor centers that assist in finding work for illegal immigrants.

Under the latest day labor bill, violators of the proposed prohibition would be guilty of misdemeanor trespassing. The proposal won preliminary approval in a 29-26 vote.

Republican state Rep. John Kavanagh of Fountain Hills, who made the proposal, said the bill was needed to prevent day laborers and people who want to hire them from causing public safety problems by disrupting traffic.

"A person can solicit all he or she wants," Kavanagh said. "It's only when they disrupt traffic that this law comes into play."

Democratic Rep. Steve Gallardo, an opponent of the measure, said the measure is meant to target day laborers, but not those who hire them.

"Why this bill is going after one side and not the other is beyond me," Gallardo said.

Kavanagh said the bill confronts those who offer and solicit day labor work.

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Arizona Legislature: http://www.azleg.gov/

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Both day laborers and employers would be fined or jailed under proposed law
Mary Jo Pitzl
The Arizona Republic
Mar. 1, 2007 04:53 PM

Day laborers, and the people who hire them, could be subject to fines and jail time under a bill that won approval today in the state House of Representatives.

House Bill 2589 is modeled after a city of Phoenix anti-soliciting ordinance and revolves around trespassing laws. It would make trespassing on public or private property, such as sidewalks, a Class 1 misdemeanor, punishable by a maximum fine of $2,500 and up to six months in jail.

Rep. John Kavanagh, R-Fountain Hills, said he sponsored the bill to combat the crowds of workers who clog certain corners and sidewalks throughout cities and towns, soliciting work. He assured skeptical Democrats that the bill also would punish anyone who hires or attempts to a hire a day laborer.

The bill passed on a voice vote. After a formal vote in the House, it will move to the state Senate.