By: Jennifer W. Sanchez
Immigrant and Refugee Integration Director
During the 2011 Utah Legislature, there were roughly 20 immigration bills proposed.
Here’s an update on the bills United Way of Salt Lake advocated for on the hill.
We supported:
* SB47 to allow refugees or asylees to take the Utah driver’s license test in their native language to apply for a driver’s license. It’s slated to be signed by Gov. Herbert.
We opposed:
* HB70/HB497, the Arizona-like law. Gov. Herbert is slated to sign it. The bill will go into effect May 10, 2011. All Utahns must be ready to prove they are U.S. citizens, if stopped by law enforcement.
* HB191, the repeal of in-state tuition for undocumented students. It was amended to make students show three years of state-income taxes.
It passed the House but never came to the Senate floor for a vote.
* SB138, the repeal of the Driving Privilege Card for some 41,000 undocumented drivers in Utah. It was changed to force people to get a background check, get their photo taken and provide their fingerprints. Gov. Herbert is slated to sign it. It will go into effect July 1, 2011.
Also, Gov. Herbert is slated to sign HB116, a bill that includes a work permit for undocumented immigrants and their families and a similar Arizona-like law. It does not go into effect until July 1, 2013. There is no way for undocumented workers to get a permit to work in Utah anytime soon.
If you have any questions about the immigration bills, contact Jennifer W. Sanchez at jenn@uw.org or on Facebook.
