Web posted
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
House committee begin reworking immigration bill
By CARL MANNING
Associated Press Writer
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) -- The House Federal and State Affairs Committee on Monday began trying to water down immigration legislation that would require employers use a federal database to verify whether they are hiring legal residents.
The committee took no action, but Chairman Arlen Siegfreid said he wants to be able to vote Wednesday on whether to send the measure to the House for debate.
''I don't want this to lay here until next week,'' said Siegfreid, an Olathe Republican.
As introduced, the bill requires employers to start using the E-Verify system and imposes penalties for those who hire illegal immigrants. The committee talked about pushing back the mandatory requirement until July 2010 and have the Kansas Department of Labor make the actual checks for employers enrolled in the program.
It still would require all government agencies and employers convicted of hiring illegal immigrants to start using E-Verify this year, and next year requires employers seeking state contracts to use the system.
''It makes it more likely that it will pass. It will make business more comfortable to have a phase-in,'' said the sponsor, Rep. Lance Kinzer, an Olathe Republican.
A business coalition that includes the Kansas Chamber, Kansas Farm Bureau and Kansas Livestock Association had opposed the original version. It contained penalties that put a business license in jeopardy and would subject contractors to liability for the status of a subcontractor's workers.
Chamber lobbyist Jeff Glendening said the coalition wants to review the proposed changes before taking a position.
The committee also talked about removing sections of the bill that require people to prove citizenship to get a Kansas driver's license. Secretary of Revenue Joan Wagnon said that's already the law and in some cases the legislation weakens it.
Still in play is a requirement for local and state law enforcement to ask anyone they detain about their citizenship or immigration status, and a provision banning most public benefits for illegal immigrants.
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ORPHAN DRUGS: Legislators sent Gov. Kathleen Sebelius a bill creating a program that allows care facilities to donate unused pharmaceuticals from patients.
The House approved the bill 121-0 on Monday.
The bill establishes criteria for accepting the drugs from patients who have died and safely redistributing them across Kansas. The drugs must be in original packaging, sealed by a pharmacy and not expired.
The Board of Pharmacy would handle the rules and implementation of the program.
It is estimated the program could save qualifying residents millions in pharmaceutical costs each year.
The House introduced the bill last year and approved 122-0. However, because it arrived late in the session, the Senate delayed action until this year. It was revived earlier this session and senators passed it 40-0 in February, adding mental health clinics and long-term care centers as facilities eligible for participation.
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THREE STRIKES LAW: Lawmakers have put some limits on a measure that would mandate prison time for all criminals convicted of a third felony.
The measure's sponsor, Senate Majority Leader Derek Schmidt, said Monday that the new version limits prison time to those convicted the third time of burglary, aggravated burglary and theft.
The change was made by a Senate Judiciary subcommittee.
Schmidt, a Republican from Independence, said the change was done to address concerns about the high cost of housing additional inmates under the original proposal.
''It's not my first choice, but you have to compromise in the process to get things moving along,'' Schmidt said.
The reworked measure is part of a larger bill the committee will consider Tuesday.
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RESCUING RESERVOIRS: Kansas legislators are asking federal agencies and Congress to take action to extend the life of the state's reservoirs.
House members passed a resolution Monday asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation and Congress to work with the state to protect the reservoirs. The reservoirs provide drinking water to about 80 percent of Kansans.
The resolution seeks federal assistance to manage the reservoirs -- some of which are nearly 50 years old -- to reduce sediment to extend their life. Sediment buildup reduces the amount of water that can be stored for drinking, drought prevention and recreation.
The resolution also calls on state and federal officials to determine any changes needed to regulations to manage the reservoirs.
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UNDER THE DOME: Monday was the 57th day of the legislative session, out of 90 scheduled. ... Officials with the University of Kansas filled the first two floors of the Statehouse with displays from the various academic departments, part of the university's annual day in Topeka. ... State revenue collections continue to run ahead of estimates, up $43.6 million from the prediction for July through February.
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Associated Press Writer John Milburn contributed to this report.
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