Rep. David Ure, R- Kamas, sponsored the state's current law, which allows illegal immigrants to use a temporary tax identification number issued by the Internal Revenue Service to get a Utah driver's license.

"We have a problem with the situation at hand. If we have people voting, if we have people buying guns, that was not the intention," Ure said. "I don't think we have any other alternative."

Ure added that the Legislature has the responsibility to address the issue of what benefits the undocumented population should be able to access. He said SB227 would likely put financial institutions in the business of issuing identification.

"One thing that bothers me more than anything else," Ure said. "We have a work force here that keeps the cost of living low, and we extort them as labor. I use that word very strongly."

Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake, proposed a failed amendment to differentiate the card with an added line that would say "Social Security number" and "yes" or "no."

The bill requires the card to be marked "FOR DRIVING PRIVILEGES ONLY — NOT VALID FOR IDENTIFICATION" and use a format, color, font or other means to distinguish it from a driver's license.

Noting some soldiers serving in Iraq are undocumented, Litvack said racial profiling would become an issue beyond law enforcement.

"What about profiling at the supermarket? What about profiling at a bank or credit union?" Litvack said. "The profiling I'm talking about is going to create a very visibly second class of people, who we are saying does not deserve the same treatment."

The bill had the reluctant support of the Utah Hispanic Legislative Task Force, although many in the Hispanic community opposed it.

"What's going to happen is people will be profiled every time people use their (driving privilege) cards, in stores, by police," said Robert Gallegos, president of RAZ PAC. "We just opened up Pandora's box."

During a House Republican Caucus meeting before the debate, Bramble told representatives that he and Lockhart had asked for the audit after hearing anecdotal evidence that illegal immigrants were voting in Utah.

Cards received under SB227 would be valid for one year. Those with an existing Utah driver's license will have until their first birthday after July 1 to exchange their license for a driving privilege card. Under the coordinating clause, those cards received under HB223 would be valid for five years, or until the holder's visa expires. State ID cards issued to people using ITINs would expire July 1.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com