Posted on Wed, Apr. 09, 2008
Immigration bills get first hearing; time running short

ASSOCIATED PRESS
With complaints ranging from drained resources to traffic congestion, Floridians on Tuesday offered legislators feedback on six bills designed to crack down on illegal immigration.

A House committee heard testimony from the public, government officials and sponsors of the bills but it took no immediate action.

With the 60-day legislative session more than half over and the bills still awaiting committee approval, the chances of getting any of the proposals passed look slim.

"I'm very disappointed that an issue that concerns so many people is not getting more serious consideration," said Rep. Don Brown, R-DeFuniak Springs.

Brown is sponsoring a bill (HB 73) that in part would require public employers and contractors to check the immigration status of new hires. It would also require law enforcement agencies to notify federal authorities of any illegal immigrants they arrest or detain.

Some of the other bills discussed before the House State Affairs Committee were similar to Brown's. One (HB 577) would allow the state to send prison inmates who are illegal immigrants back to their home countries after they serve half their sentences. Another (HB 1247) would require prisons and jails to check inmates' immigration status and report anyone not in the country legally to federal authorities.

The committee's chairman, Rep. Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, said he wants to eliminate duplication and pick out provisions with the best chance of passing the Senate as well as the House. Similar bills in the Senate, though, have yet to get committee hearings.

Gardiner said his panel didn't take up the immigration bills sooner because it was busy with other issues. He said he thinks there's still a chance the Legislature could pass one or more bills relating to the issue.

State agency officials testified they already do background checks that prevent illegal immigrants from getting Medicaid, food stamps and other public assistance. They also said there's a two-year wait for local and state law enforcement and correctional personnel to get federal training needed to check identification documents.

Department of Corrections legislative director Alex Kelly said the agency already notifies federal authorities of immigrants in state prisons but they sometimes let them stay in the United States after completing their sentences.

He said 5,200 current inmates are immigrants including about 1,800 from Cuba who cannot be sent home. There is no breakdown on how many are illegal.

Brown and other sponsors said they are frustrated Congress hasn't done enough about what should be a federal responsibility.

http://www.bradenton.com/breakingnews/story/516180.html