A proposed crackdown on companies that hire illegal immigrants has emerged as
a late-in-the-session controversy at the Indiana General Assembly.
Although the 2008 short session has been dominated by haggling over property
tax relief, some of the most heated debate came Wednesday, when the Indiana
House Public Policy Committee heard the illegal immigration crackdown proposal,
Senate Bill 335.
As written, the bill would set up a three-tier punishment system for
employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens after Sept. 30, 2009. If a company
had three violations within 10 years, it could lose its license to operate in
Indiana.
But the committee chairman, state Rep. Trent Van Haaften, D-Mount Vernon, was
one of several lawmakers who raised concerns about loopholes in the bill.
Seasonal workers wouldn't be covered and employers could get around the
legislation by declaring their workers to be independent contractors.
Business groups complained the bill was too punitive on employers and
activists for the Hispanic community expressed concern that the bill could lead
to racial profiling. Border security advocates contended state government must
act to stop illegal immigration because of inaction by the federal
government.
The House Public Policy Committee will hear the bill again today.
In other business:
Homelessness: The state Senate voted 45-2 on Thursday to pass an
Evansville-inspired bill to clear legal hurdles that prevent homeless juveniles
from receiving social services. House Bill 1165 is authored by state Rep. Dennis
Avery, D-Evansville, and sponsored by state Sen. Vaneta Becker, R-Evansville.
Among other things, food banks and homeless shelters would be allowed to assist
homeless or "unattached" minors, something they can't do under current law. The
bill now goes back to the full House, which previously passed it.
A bill providing for sibling visitation between young people in foster care,
Senate Bill 91, was approved by a House committee. The two bills were prompted
by the findings of the Evansville-Vanderburgh County Homeless Youth Council,
which last year estimated there were 362 homeless youth in Vanderburgh
County.
Veto override: In a rare move, the Legislature has voted this session to
override the governor's veto of a bill passed last year. House Enrolled Act 1388
provides several tax incentives to the film industry in Indiana. Gov. Mitch
Daniels vetoed it last April 27, contending the incentives were corporate
subsidies. The Democratic-controlled Indiana House voted 77-17 to override the
veto Jan. 8. Last week, the Republican-controlled state Senate followed suit,
voting 36-11 to override the veto. Daniels called the override "irresponsible,"
but the bill is now law over his objections.
Property taxes: The House is now hearing the Senate version of the property
tax relief legislation and the Senate is hearing the House version. Following on
the heels of schools, officials from city and county governments testified to
the House Ways and Means Committee last week about the proposed property tax
circuit breakers, which would limit taxes on homesteads to no more than 1
percent of assessed value.
On Thursday, Indiana House Speaker Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, floated the
idea of slowing implementation of one part of the governor's plan: the proposal
for the state to take over 100 percent of school operating costs instead of the
current 85 percent.
Gov. Mitch Daniels on Friday contended that the property tax relief plan
should go forward as planned, with the state picking up school operating
costs.
As the Legislature enters the home stretch, hardball negotiations are ahead
on the shape of the property tax relief plan. The adjournment deadline for
lawmakers is March 14.
The Associated Press contributed to this story