http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ ... 70329/1004
Published Tuesday, February 7, 2006

Farm Migrants Take Issues to Capitol
Lawmakers endorse bill to require seat belts in vans that carry farm workers.

By DAVID ROYSE
The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE -- Florida should spend $20 million to create affordable housing for farm workers, increase inspections of field safety conditions and pass a law requiring seat belts in vans that carry workers to the fields, a special migrant worker committee recommended Monday.

But broader recommendations on providing access to government benefits for illegal immigrants may not be included in the final proposal from the Joint Legislative Commission on Migrant and Seasonal Labor.

Panel co-chairman Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, has objected to those issues because of their political sensitivity.

Alexander, a citrus grower, said he thinks many of the difficulties migrant farm workers face -- such as an inability to access health care and social services -- would disappear if it weren't the case that so many are in the U.S. illegally.

And many Floridians simply won't support using tax dollars to help illegal immigrants, Alexander said.

"On a human level, these folks are our brothers and sisters," Alexander said. "But politically, I'm sure a large part of my district would not approve of benefits for illegal immigrants."

The commission did agree to support a number of changes that worker advocates have been pushing, including endorsement of a bill sponsored by Alexander that would require seat belts in vans that carry farm workers to the fields.

An Associated Press review last year found transportation-related accidents to be the leading cause of work-related deaths for Florida's farm workers.

The panel also endorsed increased safety and sanitation inspections of farm fields and farm worker housing, and adding 10 new positions in the Department of Agriculture for more pesticide inspections.

"On the whole, we're very pleased," said Karen Woodall, an advocate for migrant workers who has pushed for many of the changes. She said that even if the Legislature only deals with pesticide issues, housing and seat belts, it would be a big step forward for a group of people who often don't get much attention.

"It's 25, 30 years of coming here, and for the first time I'm feeling really good," said Margarita Romo, a farm worker activist from Pasco County.

But several of the issues that the panel has heard about from farm workers boil down to immigration status. It's hard to accurately estimate how many farm laborers are undocumented. But advocates say most are here illegally.

Other proposals could cost the panel's recommendations some support, Alexander said. They include providing disaster assistance and health care coverage to migrant workers and making their children eligible for in-state college tuition. Alexander also said he couldn't support a proposal sought by worker advocates to allow them to get driver's licenses, which they currently can't get legally.

"In my district, they just don't support that," said Alexander, whose district covers a wide area of South-Central Florida from Polk County down to the northern borders of the Everglades, a heavily agricultural and rural area.

He said that Florida may not be able to deal with many of those issues directly anyway -- because federal immigration law would trump the state's efforts.

"I don't want to get the very positive things we can do bogged down with these federal immigration issues," Alexander said.

Alexander's bill (SB 25 to require seat belts in farm vehicles has moved quickly through the legislative committee process and is set for a vote by the full Senate when the Legislature convenes next month.