Hate-crime bill back on the Hill

"Law officers are unable to use it; they have been asking for an enforceable tool for many years," he said. "Every other state that has workable hate crimes laws includes classifications."

However, those classifications, especially "sexual orientation," have prevented the bill's passage in the past, Litvack said.

Other issues this session:

• Immigration: Utahns For Immigration Reform and Enforcement (UFIRE) has said it plans to repeat efforts to repeal the law allowing illegal immigrants to get state drivers' licenses.

On this issue, both sides are arguing homeland security. UFIRE spokesman Alex Segura said allowing illegal immigrants to have drivers' licenses "creates a magnet for people from across the country to come to Utah" and gives those residing here illegally, including criminals, valid forms of identification, which they can use just like a legal resident.

Joe Reyna, Republican co-chairman of the bipartisan Utah Hispanic Legislative Task Force, said illegal immigrants use licenses to drive and for identification.

"People are going to drive regardless of if they have a license or not," he said. "The bigger issue . . . is that the state is better off, definitely, knowing who these people are, and where they are and how many people are in this state."

Among other immigration issues to watch for: an An effort to require employers to check the validity of a worker's Social Security number; a requirement of proof of citizenship to register to vote; and repealing the statute that allows illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition.

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E-mail: dbulkeley@desnews.com