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05-06-2013, 04:20 PM #1
CO. House gives first OK to give licenses to those in country illegally
House give first OK to give licenses to those in country illegally
Posted: 05/06/2013 01:35:11 PM MDT
Updated: 05/06/2013 01:56:21 PM MDT
By Kurtis Lee
The Denver Post
Whether residents of Colorado in the country illegally should be able to obtain a state-issued form of a driver's license received a contentious debate in the House on Monday before lawmakers gave it an initial OK.
Democrats insist the measure is a public safety issue, while Republicans voiced concerns these identification cards could be doled out to individuals with criminal backgrounds.
"This bill addresses a public safety concern that's been lacking for years and that's making sure all residents using our roads know the rules regardless of the their documentation," said Rep. Jovan Melton, an Aurora Democrat, who is championing the effort in the House.
Senate Bill 251 passed through the Senate last month with zero Republican support.
In order to obtain the license, applicants would have to present copies of state tax returns, a federal tax identification number and proof of identity from their country of origin, such as a passport or consulate card.
New Mexico, Illinois and Washington distribute licenses to those who are in the country illegally. In recent weeks, lawmakers in Maryland passed similar measures granting driver's licenses.
Rep. Dan Nordberg, a Colorado Springs Republican, offered an amendment on Monday to have those seeking a license submit a fingerprint to the federal Secure Communities Program, as a way of verifying that an individual hasn't been convicted of a crime in the country.
The amendment — one of several proposed by House GOP — was shot down by Democrats, who said it's unneccesary because fingerprints are already being taken and background checks aren't required to receive a license.
" You have no way of verifying someones criminal background," Nordberg said. "Colorado could be giving driver's licenses to a person who is undocumented in our country and has committed multiple felonies around the country ... we could be sanctioning bad actors to drive in Colorado."
State Rep. Dan Pabon, a Denver Democrat, countered that argument by saying those seeking a license who are in the country illegally should not have to abide by different road safety standards.
"We have safety parameters in place so that those on our roads understand the laws of the road. We should not be making those who might be undocumented have to undergo a different process to get a license," Pabon said.
The licenses would not be valid for federal purposes, voting or public benefits. Implementation of the proposed law would occur in August 2014 so that the state has enough time to work out details about the look of the licenses so to ensure they are clearly distinguishable from those possessed by legal residents and citizens.
The House is set for a final vote on the bill Tuesday, before it then returns to the Senate which will have to concur with small technical amendments passed in the House.
Kurtis Lee: 303-954-1655, klee@denverpost.com or twitter.com/kurtisalee
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingne...#ixzz2SXsTUHnzNO AMNESTY
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05-06-2013, 04:27 PM #2
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