Bill requiring license applicants to prove citizenship fails
By Sheena Mcfarland



Posted: 03/03/2009 11:45:08 AM MST


A bill that would require applicants for a professional or business license to sign a sworn affidavit that they are U.S. citizens died in committee Tuesday.

HB262, sponsored by Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, would charge anyone who falsifies that information with perjury. The business community strongly opposed the measure.

"We do not know what impact this will have on state coffers," said Antonella Packard, who sits on the policy board of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce.

Ron Mortensen of the Utah Coalition on Illegal Immigration backed the bill, saying businesses owned by undocumented immigrants should not be allowed to compete against citizen-owned businesses.

The bill failed 7-5.

smcfarland@sltrib.com


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