INDIANAPOLIS | An anti-illegal immigration proposal that requires most businesses verify the immigration status of employees was approved by a House committee Friday.
Senate Bill 590 now goes to the full Republican-controlled House very different from how it arrived from the Republican-controlled Senate.
"I think a lot of the meanness was taken out of it," said state Rep. Scott Pelath, D-Michigan City.
The House Public Policy Committee removed a requirement that a police officer check the immigration status of any person the officer reasonably suspects is in the country illegally.
It also eliminated an order that state and local governments use only English in official communications and a mandate that state police contract with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to enforce federal immigration law in the state.
The measure now requires state and local governments, and any business contracting with government, to use the federal E-Verify system to confirm all employees are legally entitled to work in the U.S.
Republicans said the E-Verify database contains many errors and they are worried businesses may be punished even though they tried to follow the rules.
Nevertheless, all six Republicans on the committee voted to send the legislation on to the House for a final vote next week. The five Democrats voted no.