http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California2/C ... 18CA.shtml

Gil Cedillo Illegal Immigrant Licenses Legislation Approved

IMMIGRANT LICENSES By a 42-34 vote, the Assembly approved legislation that would let illegal immigrants get driver's licenses.

The measure by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, would overturn a 1993 law that prohibits the state from issuing licenses to drivers who cannot prove they are in the country legally.

Supporters said giving licenses to illegal immigrants would make the roads safer by ensuring that all drivers go through state testing and get insurance. But critics charged that giving licenses to illegal immigrants would reward those who break the law.

The bill now goes to the Senate.




HUMAN TRAFFICKING The Assembly approved a bill by Sen. Sheila Kuehl, D-Santa Monica, that would extend public services such as refugee cash assistance, Medi-Cal benefits and employment services to non-citizen victims of human trafficking, domestic violence and other violent crimes.

In order to receive state and local aid, those individuals would have to show that they were taking steps to meet eligibility requirements for federal benefits.

The bill passed 45-4 and now goes back to the Senate for a vote on Assembly amendments.