David Braddock wants to GUT HB1804

Rep. David Braddock, D-Altus, said he wants to repeal provisions of the anti-illegal immigrant law to help out farmers and businesses in his district who have struggled to find workers since the law went into effect last year.

"I was afraid this was going to turn into an economic disaster. And it really has," Braddock said. "A lot of the labor force just picked up and left — legal and illegal."

The measure, House Bill 1804, was passed by the Oklahoma Legislature last year and was signed into law by Gov. Brad Henry. It went into effect for the public sector on Nov. 1 and will go into effect July 1 for private-sector employers.

Among other things, it bars illegal immigrants from receiving tax-supported services, requires employers to verify the immigration status of their employees and exposes employers to legal action for hiring unauthorized immigrants in place of U.S. citizens.

Braddock's bill would repeal the legal ban on allowing undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition at state colleges and universities, receive public entitlement assistance or get state driver's licenses, ID cards and occupational licenses, according to the author of House Bill 1804, Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore.

It would also prevent state and local law enforcement agencies from enforcing the bill's employment provisions.

Terrill said the measure is another in a series of attempts to block the state immigration statute. Last week, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce challenged the law's constitutionality in a federal lawsuit that alleges it interferes with federal immigration law and creates a patchwork of uncoordinated state immigration procedures.

"The moral dilemma for them is that they are defending the functional equivalent of modern-day slavery," Terrill said.

Terrill has filed legislation to strengthen the measure by making English the state's official language and allowing law enforcement to seize and forfeit assets used to harbor, transport or conceal illegal aliens.

Mike Seney, the senior vice president of operations for The State Chamber, a business and industry group, said the organization's human resources committee has recommended that its board support Braddock's repeal effort. The board will consider the recommendation next week.

But Rep. Rex Duncan, R-Sand Springs, the chairman of the House Judiciary and Public Safety Committee, said it is doubtful he will give the bill a hearing.

"To the extent that it's my call, it's not going to be heard," said Duncan, a co-author of House Bill 1804.

Braddock said he hopes members of the business community will change Duncan's mind.

"First hand, they've experienced it," Braddock said referring to businessmen and women. "The bad news just keeps coming with 1804."

Braddock's measure is House Bill 2445.