Georgia considers its own guest worker program

GEORGIA POLITICS 3:28 p.m. Monday, April 18, 2011
By Jeremy Redmon
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

The state’s agricultural commissioner said Monday that he will soon begin a thorough study of whether Georgia can legally create its own guest-worker program.



George Turner: "If you go strictly by the numbers, crime is down across the board. Last year we had a 10 percent decrease in the most serious crimes."

Agricultural Commissioner Gary Black said his department will consult officials in Utah, where the state Legislature passed a bill this year that would allow illegal immigrants to get permits to work in that state.

Black’s study would be required under House Bill 87, omnibus immigration enforcement legislation passed by the General Assembly last week. Gov. Nathan Deal has said he plans to sign the bill.

HB 87 also would require Black’s department to study the impact of immigration on the state’s agricultural industry and “the need for reformâ€