A bill that would have delayed implementation of a comprehensive immigration proposal passed last year failed in a Senate committee Monday on a tie vote.
SB113, sponsored by Sen. Pat Jones, D-Holladay, would have delayed implementation of SB81 until July of 2010. Without legislative action, SB81 bill will take effect on July 1 of this year.
Nearly a dozen people testified in support of delaying SB81, ranging from Catholic and LDS Church representatives to the Sutherland Institute to Latino community activists.
Many worried about the chilling effect SB81 may have as local law enforcement can be cross-deputized and serve as immigration enforcement officers. They also worried about the $1.8 million cost of implementing the bill, especially when President Barack Obama has said he plans to begin looking at immigration on a federal level this summer.
Those who opposed SB113 and wanted SB81 to go forward said it was time to crack down on identity theft, and the current economic situation necessitated more jobs going to Americans instead of undocumented workers.
SB113 » Would delay implementation of SB81, last year's comprehensive immigration-reform law.
