Georgia's House has for the second time advanced a bill that would bar immigrants without legal status from serving on local commissions, councils and boards.
By a 94-62 vote Wednesday, the Republican-led House approved Senate Bill 85. That measure originally was focused on development authorities. Lawmakers changed it to make it identical to House Bill 781, which the House approved last month. HB 781 is now stalled in a Senate committee.
Critics of the bill point out that proponents have not been able to cite examples where immigrants without papers have been appointed to local boards in Georgia. Opponents also predict the bill will harm foreign investments in the Peach State.
“This is an anti-business bill,” state Rep. Mary Margaret Oliver, D-Decatur, said before voting against SB 85. “It’s a bill that does not recognize, appreciate or give respect to the international businesses that we recruit with a lot of expense and a lot of effort to Georgia.”
The sponsor of HB 781 — Republican state Rep. Brad Raffensperger of Johns Creek — did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. But he has previously said he was inspired to act after a California city appointed two people without legal status to city panels. He didn't identify the city. But Huntington Park – a small city located outside of Los Angeles – made news last year when it appointed two immigrants without papers to its parks and recreation and health and education commissions.
“I have heard of some organizations speaking out against this bill, which really amounts to them advocating that illegal immigrants should be allowed to sit as members of a government board, commission or authority,” Raffensperger said in an email. “I do not believe this viewpoint would be supported by the broad majority of American citizens.”
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