MONTGOMERY -- Key Republicans said a proposed rewrite of the state's immigration law runs longer than the original as lawmakers seek to clarify what they intended, and what they didn't, when they passed the controversial law in 2010.
"It's going to be a stronger bill. It's going to be more enforceable, and it's going to be more workable," Speaker of the House Mike Hubbard said. He said the bill will be introduced shortly after lawmakers return from this week's legislative spring break.
Alabama House Majority Leader Micky Hammon, the sponsor of the original law, also is working on the revision. The Decatur Republican said no section of the law will be repealed. Instead, much of the bill will be clarifying through added language and definitions what lawmakers intended when they passed the original.
"It will stop a lot of the confusion. I feel it will be a lot stronger bill because it will be easier to enforce," Hammon said.
Hammon said some have tried to "exaggerate" the law's intent, and he hopes the changes will correct that.
The original law forbids state and local governments from conducting business transactions with undocumented aliens. The law has been interpreted so that people were being forced to show proof of legal residency for mundane activities like getting water service.
Hubbard, R-Auburn, said the rewrite will clarify exactly the types of business transaction legislators intended.
"It is getting a business license. It's not getting your water turned on or your cable hooked up," Hubbard said.
Hubbard declined to disclose all of the changes since the bill is a work in progress, and legislative leaders hope to have conversations with stakeholders who have made suggestions. But Hubbard said they've listened to concerns raised by law enforcement, charities, businesses and legal citizens.
The bill will not do away with a requirement that businesses use the federal E-Verify program to check the citizenship status of new hires, Hammon and Hubbard said. The requirement goes into effect Sunday.
However, Senate President Pro Tempore Del Marsh, R-Anniston, said there will be some language added to clarify how far a company's liability will stretch.
"For instance in my business, I can show the E-Verify certification. But if I am having someone work on the crane in my complex, and I ask that person if they are E-Verify compliant and they say yes, it shouldn't be my obligation to request paperwork from their company," Marsh said.
Marsh said in the rewrite they've also tried to address the concerns expressed by religious organizations that work with immigrant communities.
"I think this will clarify that they are able to carry on those outreach programs without fear of being guilty of a crime," Marsh said.
Hubbard said the rewrite will also more clearly spell out when law enforcement can demand to see someone's proof of citizenship. Hammon said the changes should help "law enforcement be clear on what they can and can't do."
"We listened very closely to law enforcement to get rid of any ambiguity," Hubbard said.
"It's never been the intent of the Legislature to say you can stop someone walking down the street and say, 'Hey, you look like you might be illegal.' We've clarified that to make it abundantly clear," Hubbard said.
"It has to be some other reason the person is stopped or detained in order to check," Hubbard said.
Sen. Scott Beason, who sponsored the original bill in the Senate and has also been working on changes, said lawmakers have gotten multiple requests for changes to the existing law.
"Some are reasonable. Some of the stuff I think is not necessary, and I would question why they want to make those changes," Beason, R-Gardendale, said.
"I have no intention of doing anything that will weaken the law," Beason said.
Hammon said he believes the changes will enhance the law and not water it down.
"We will not weaken this legislation. As a matter of fact it will be more enforceable because of the clarifications and definitions we are adding," Hammon said.
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Source: http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2012/03/republicans_say_alabama_immigr.html
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