AZ: Legislature OKs bill targeting day laborers

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/0425day-labor0425.html

Legislature OKs bill targeting day laborers

Jessica Coomes and Mary Jo Pitzl
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 25, 2007 12:00 AM
In the first piece of immigration-related legislation to pass the Arizona Legislature this session, lawmakers Tuesday took aim at the mostly undocumented day laborers who clog streets and the people who hire them.

Workers who disrupt traffic while looking for day jobs near public streets would be guilty of criminal trespassing under the measure, which would be enforced by local police officers. Workers also would not be allowed to gather on private property without permission. The same penalty would apply to the people who hired day laborers.

The measure, House Bill 2589, is on its way to Gov. Janet Napolitano's desk.

Although the first immigration-related bill to be sent to the governor this session, it won't be the last.

On Tuesday, Senate Majority Leader John Huppenthal asked the governor to negotiate a thorny employer-sanctions bill with the Senate. He called the bill "decidedly imperfect" and said it is important to get the governor's input so lawmakers can pass a workable bill that she will sign.

Huppenthal, R-Chandler, said creating penalties for employers who knowingly hire undocumented workers is a priority not only of the Republican leadership but of most Arizonans.

FULL story at link.

the legislature would have funded the building of day-labor hiring sites at convenient locations.

It works well here in Texas, with sites built by cities. But if a state government is concerned, it could fund sites all over a state.

That is, if traffic obstruction were really the concern.