Guest worker permit bill planned in Oklahoma
BY Associated Press
Friday, December 14, 2012
OKLAHOMA CITY — A Republican state senator from Seminole said he'll reintroduce a proposal to allow undocumented immigrants to work in Oklahoma.
Sen. Harry Coates of Seminole said he's filed a bill to allow undocumented immigrants who are 18 or older to stay in the state if they purchase a guest worker permit, find a sponsor who will both hire them and provide health insurance.
The permit would cost $1,000 and the workers must agree to a criminal background check and provide a home address and phone number.
Coates sponsored a similar bill earlier this year that was never heard in a Senate committee. It carried a permit fee of $2,000, prohibited the undocumented workers from receiving unemployment payments and required them to provide evidence that they would not operate a motor vehicle.
