A House panel on Thursday approved a measure to repeal driving privilege cards for undocumented immigrants.

The 6-3 party-line vote in support of HB239 by the House Law Enforcement Committee came after legislators discussed a legislative audit that showed 76 percent of an estimated 34,799 current valid driving privilege cards were matched to an insurance policy. The cards were created in 2005, as a compromise that allowed undocumented drivers to get insurance without being able to hold a driver's license.

However, Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, said he's sponsoring HB239 because the cards give undocumented immigrants a state ID. And he questioned the legislative audit's validity.

"It didn't take into account the fact that people may only carry insurance for one or two months," Donnelson said.

Donnelson added that the number of card holders is far short of the total undocumented population, estimated as high as 100,000 by the Pew Hispanic Center.

However, Rep. David Litvack, D-Salt Lake, said the recent audit results are consistent with a legislative audit conducted last year that showed a 75 percent insurance rate.

"We should not turn our backs on public safety because of Congress' failure to enact comprehensive immigration reform," Litvack said.

During media availability Thursday, Senate President John Valentine, R-Orem, said the audit indicated the driving privilege card is working.

"It's working for what it was asked to do," Valentine said. "It can be used to purchase insurance on a vehicle. ... These people need to have insurance."

The bill was held from a committee vote earlier this week because of concerns the repeal would also mean legal residents, such as those with student visas, would also lose the cards. Donnelson clarified this morning that under his bill, drivers who could prove they're legal but don't qualify for a Social Security card, would be able to turn in their cards and get a driver's license.

Nanette Rolfe, director of the Driver License Division, told committee members that that her department would lose two employees if the bill becomes law.

Lawmakers this session will also consider a bill to tighten restrictions on the driving privilege card so it can't be used for identification and so that a lack of insurance would be reason to pull the cards.

Meanwhile the House approved without discussion Thursday another bill by Donnelson. HB26 prevents notary publics from accepting driving privilege cards as proof of identity and removes the requirement for a notary's address to appear on the notary's seal.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com