But opponents say it could make it easier to deny immigrants disability benefits and encourage employers to hire undocumented workers.

Under a current law, a worker who is permanently injured can receive benefits whether or not the worker is a citizen, but the employer can put together a job description the worker might be able to do despite the disability.

The bill would make it so that workers who can't do that job - for example, because they are in jail, or are undocumented workers - cannot continue to receive disability benefits.

Rep. Mike Morley, R-Spanish Fork, said the goal is to make sure people are not getting state payments indefinitely while sitting in jail or because they can't legally do the job. But Richard Burke, an attorney with the Utah Association for Justice, said the change would make it easier for employers to cut off benefits to undocumented workers who are hurt on the job.

"In effect, it makes a financial incentive to hire illegal employees," said Burke. The measure passed easily and heads to the House for consideration. - Robert Gehrke