A House bill to tighten the restrictions on driving privilege cards received a nod from a Senate panel on Tuesday.

It's among a slate of immigration-related bills that have passed the House and moved to the Senate.

But with just six working days left, some House bills won't have time for a Senate committee hearing. And for those bills, it will likely come down to which are House priorities, said Sen. Bill Hickman, R-St. George, who chairs the Senate Rules Committee that controls which bills receive hearings.

House Majority Leader David Clark, R-Santa Clara, said the priority will likely be those bills which aren't included in SB81, a comprehensive Senate bill.

"The enemy of all of us up here is time," Clark said.

SB81, which would take effect in July 2009, aimed at creating barriers against undocumented immigrants obtaining jobs or public benefits.

On Tuesday, the Senate Government Operations Committee approved HB171, which isn't in the Senate bill. Rep. Brad Daw, R-Orem, sponsor of HB171, said it would prevent driving privilege cards from being used for purposes such as buying alcohol, firearms or prescriptions. It would also revoke the cards of uninsured drivers.

The Senate Committee approved that bill while rejecting another House bill that would repeal the cards.

"Is it the perfect solution? No," Daw said following the meeting. "We are doing the best that we can given the current situation we have."

Meanwhile, the same committee ran out of time to hear HB241, another bill which would repeal a 2002 law that allows qualified undocumented immigrants pay in-state tuition at public colleges and universities. That bill's sponsor, Rep. Glenn Donnelson, R-North Ogden, wants to substitute it with a measure to keep the lower rate in place but revoke it for students who work illegally.

Another House bill not included in SB81 is HB237, which would require an agreement for some state troopers to perform federal immigration enforcement duties.

On the House side, Clark said SB81's delayed implementation date may be beneficial. The bill was approved by the Senate on Monday, along with SB97, which would create a legislative task force to study the issue.

"When it comes to our economy, doing things abruptly may have some consequences that were not thought of before," Clark said. So, he said, doing things deliberatively "may be a better policy."

Tony Yapias, director of Proyecto Latino de Utah, said while he's encouraged by the delayed start of SB81, he's still monitoring the Capitol.

"We cannot let down our guard until midnight on March 5," Yapias said. "It is very important we keep an eye on the Legislature."

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com