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AJC.com > Legislature > Blog > Archives > 2006 > February > 21 > Entry
DEL.ICIO.USDebate begins on Immigration Compliance Act
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
A long-anticipated debate over legislative efforts to address illegal immigration in Georgia began in earnest today at the state Capitol.
People on both sides of the issue packed a room in the Coverdell Legislative Office Building in Atlanta to learn about and comment on Sen. Chip Rogers’ (R-Woodstock) Senate Bill 529, known as the “Georgia Security and Immigration Compliance Act.� Rogers bill seeks to crack down on illegal immigrants and those who employ them.
Rogers spent the first hour of the public hearing going over details of the bill. Rogers opened his analysis of the bill by saying that he’s worked with many groups on the legislation, including construction contractors, homebuilders, manufacturers, law enforcement officials, the Mexican consulate, the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and others.
“At the end of the day I hope we can come up with a piece of legislation that will deal with an issue that is of great concern to a lot of people throughout the state of Georgia,� Rogers said. “It is a topic that has certainly come to the forefront nationally, and in the state, over the last few years. It is a topic that many people want to see action on. But it is a topic that deserves a lot of respect and I think that working through these issues with people that you agree with and those that you disagree with is very important in drafting proper legislation.�
To assist him in explaining the intent of his legislation, Rogers was joined at the committee by Michael Hethmon, a lawyer with the Federation for Immigration Reform and Bob Keller, executive counsel of the Prosecuting Attorneys’ Council of Georgia.
Sen. Brian Kemp (R-Athens), chairman of the Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security committee, said Monday he called the hearing to go through the bill in detail and to give both sides ample opportunity to weigh in on it. The committee is not scheduled to vote on the bill today.
Rogers said earlier today the bill will likely undergo many changes between now and when it will be voted on by the committee — which could come as early as Friday, or next week. Some of the language in the bill needs fine-tuning, he said.
Among the provisions in the current version of Rogers’ bill:
—Denies certain taxpayer-provided benefits to anyone 18 and older who cannot show evidence of legal status in the United States.
—Forbids employers from claiming illegal immigrants’ wages as a tax write-off.
—Prohibits state and local governments from awarding contracts to companies that hire illegal immigrants.
—Establishes penalties on the state level for human trafficking.
—Requires local law enforcement officers to report illegal immigrants arrested and taken into custody for criminal violations to federal immigration officials.
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