Repeal of guest worker bill; other tweaks of immigration laws on 2012 legislative agenda

SALT LAKE CITY — Odds are the issue of illegal immigration won't dominate the Utah Legislature's agenda in 2012 as it did a year ago, political observers say.

Now that Utah's economy appears to be on the rebound and the flow of illegal immigration has waned, according census figures, lawmakers convening the 2012 general session Monday say they want focus on issues they had to shelve in recent years because of dwindling tax revenues.

This session is also taking place in an election year and the November recall of Arizona Senate President Russell Pearce, the architect of that state's tough enforcement law, SB1070, sent a resounding message about the public's desire for "real solutions … not just a focus on law enforcement," his successor, Sen. Jerry Lewis, has said.

Utah's own enforcement law passed by lawmakers last year is in federal court, where a judge is considering whether it is constitutional. A hearing is scheduled in mid-February, and if the court rules while lawmakers are in session, the Legislature may need to amend sections of the law, Utah Attorney Mark Shurtleff has said.

That bill was part of a package of four bills passed in the 2011 session that won't go into effect until 2013, supposing Congress grants necessary waivers to allow some of them to become law. That means state lawmakers are not under a time crunch to tinker with them.

Even with those factors seemingly putting immigration on the backburner, a number of immigration measures are bubbling to the surface on Capitol Hill, such as a proposal to repeal and replace HB116, Utah's guest worker permit bill, passed a last year.

The law created a guest worker permit and an immediate family permit, with the latter allowing an undocumented worker's spouse and unmarried children to be in the country lawfully. Applicants would have to submit to criminal background checks and be fingerprinted. People with criminal records would be referred to state and federal law enforcement. Permit holders who failed to obtain basic health insurance would be subject to $750 fines.

Rep. Chris Herrod, R-Provo, who would sponsor the repeal, says HB116 conflicts with Republican Party principles and is likely unconstitutional.