Rep. Joe Carr, R-LascassasLEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP IN TENNESSEEThese are some of the immigration-related bills introduced this session.Taken off notice:• HB2191 would have made it a felony to: “conceal, harbor or shield from detection in this state another who the person knows or reasonably should know is an illegal alien,” or to “[t]ransport or move another who the person knows or reasonably should know is an illegal alien.”• HB2721/SB2602 would have prohibited translation of the written portion of the driver’s license exam.Passed, awaiting Gov. Haslam’s signature:• HB1379/SB1325 would require applicants for most public benefits to show one or two forms of identification, depending on citizenship or legal status.• HB2466 requires police to arrest a driver involved in a serious accident if he/she doesn’t have a valid license or proof of insurance.• HB2678 allows a magistrate to set a higher bail amount if someone arrested for involvement in a serious accident is found to be an illegal immigrant.• HB3540/SB3345 caps the number of employees on H-1B or J-1 worker visas a charter school can hire. The chartering authority would be able to deny or revoke a charter if a school employed more than 3.5 percent of workers on the non-immigrant visas.Source: Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition
During the final days of Tennessee’s legislative session, lawmakers approved a bill that requires anyone applying for public benefits to prove they are in the country legally.
The legislation is part of the state’s efforts to enforce immigration and is one of the major pieces the state has passed, said its sponsor, Rep. Joe Carr, R-Lascassas.
Gov. Bill Haslam is expected to sign the bill, according to his office.
Tennessee’s more targeted approach to immigration enforcement laws differs from the approach taken by some other states. Georgia and Alabama, for example, were among a number of states that followed Arizona’s lead in 2010 and introduced comprehensive bills addressing immigration in recent legislative sessions.