House Bill 1804 by Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, and Sen. James A. Williamson, R-Tulsa, now heads to the full Senate.

The measure would require public agencies and private employers to determine whether a person is in the country legally before providing a job or public assistance. The bill would exempt emergency medical care.

The measure would require applicants to sign an affidavit verifying their legal status.

In addition, the measure would ban employers from firing a legal resident while retaining an illegal immigrant on the payroll if both have the same skills, among other things.

The measure would tighten the requirements for illegal immigrants to receive resident tuition, scholarships and financial aid.

Under the measure, illegal immigrants would not be able to get driver's licenses or state identification cards.

State and local authorities also would have the power to enforce federal immigration laws.

Sen. Judy Eason McIntyre, D-Tulsa, said the measure is a "mean-spirited" attempt to demonize people. She said she is especially troubled by the measure's phrasing, which she said contains statements that are not supported by fact.

The bill states that Oklahoma "finds that illegal immigration is causing economic

Williamson said that when a person who is a legal resident loses a job to a person who is not, it creates an economic hardship. In addition, a person who is here illegally is not following the law, he said.

"I am very concerned as an African-American in America how a group of people can be painted with a broad brush as being bad people, to demonize them," McIntyre said. "It is almost like driving while black."

She said the bill would do nothing except give those running for office the ability to say they did something about illegal immigration.

Williamson said the measure has undergone several changes.

The Oklahoma Chamber of Com merce has withdrawn its opposition to the bill and now is neutral, he said.

The Senate Judiciary Committee passed the measure, dubbed the Oklahoma Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act of 2007, by a vote of 5-3.

In unrelated action: The Senate Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee also passed HB 1686 by Rep. Bill Nations, D-Norman, and Sen. Andrew Rice, D-Oklahoma City.

The measure would require people younger than 18 to wear a helmet while riding an all-terrain vehicle at a state park.

Barbara Hoberock (405) 528-2465
barbara.hoberock@tulsaworld.com