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SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Amid the fallout from Arizona's tough new law against illegal immigration, Gov. Gary Herbert has dropped plans to call for a special session to deal with an immigration bill.
Herbert's announcement was made as legislative leaders said there was little support among their colleagues to revise Senate Bill 251, which requires businesses to verify the legal residency of employees.
Herbert wanted to water down the bill, citing concerns about its impact on business. But lawmakers balked at making the change, with some calling for tough new penalties for failure to check a worker's legal status and suggesting Utah should adopt Arizona's law.
"The governor realizes (immigration policy) is a conversation that needs to happen in Utah," said Herbert spokeswoman Angie Welling. "It's something that he will participate in, but it's something that needs to be done in a thoughtful and deliberative way and a special session is not the venue to do that."
Typically, a special session lasts only a few hours.
Under an agreement, Herbert signed the bill into law on the condition lawmakers at a special session would make participation in the program voluntary before its July 1 implementation.
The bill requires businesses with 15 or more employees to run workers' names through the federal E-Verify database. But it carries no penalties for failure to comply.
Lane Beattie, president and CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, said it was best to avoid a fight "with all the emotion" over the Arizona law. Chamber members voiced concerns over the law.
"I think because of this situation that took place in Arizona and the heated controversy that there has been, there may be some wisdom in not pushing something that is not as critical," Beattie told the Salt Lake Tribune.
House Speaker David Clark, R-Santa Clara, said he thinks the bill was fine in the first place. " I've never felt very strongly that we needed (a special session) at all," Clark said. "The climate out there has probably enhanced those same feelings."
Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said his GOP caucus members weren't interested in a special session to revise the bill, but had other ideas. "I had a couple people say, `Let's have the governor call us back and pass the Arizona law,"' he said.
Rep. Stephen Sandstrom, R-Orem, said he wants to toughen the bill so businesses face a fine for the first offense and are banned from doing business in the state for a second offense.
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Information from: The Salt Lake Tribune
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
