When I talk about that fear, I am not talking about the fear of running off the road when it is snowing outside or the fear of hydroplaning during a thunderstorm, Gonzalez Tena told legislators. They cant even suspend licenses from people when theyre supposed to, he said. Read Idaho Gov. This breaking news story will be updated. Idaho's bill would create a new driver's . The secretary of state wrote the ballot language for this measure. Massachusetts Question 4, Remove Proof of Citizenship or Immigration Status for Driver's License Applications Referendum (2022). Sixteen states, plus Puerto Rico and Washington, D.C., allow undocumented immigrants to receive driver's licenses or similar IDs known as driving privilege cards, eliminating the chance of arrest for driving without a license, a common fast-track to deportation. If the Idaho Senate passes the bill, it would be sent to the Idaho House of Representatives for consideration. Brazilian Worker Center Executive Director Lenita Reason, center, delivers remarks around midnight rallying supporters of the ballot question. Too many people in our communities drive in fear every day of being pulled over, detained, then deported. The 25 new centers are expected to ease the burden on emergency rooms for patients with behavioral health crises. The Senate voted 32 to 8 in favor of the measure. In order for our states police officers to best do their jobs and remain safe while doing so, they need to be able to identify whos behind the wheel, he added. }, The following is the argument in support of Question 4 found in the Official Voter Information Guide:[7], Fair and Secure Massachusetts led the campaign in support of a 'no' vote on Question 4. The illegal immigrant population of the United States peaked by 2007, when it was at 12.2 million and 4% of the total U.S. population. H 4805 repealed the provision of state law that says, "No license of any type may be issued to any person who does not have lawful presence in the United States. }, The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in support of the measure.Cite error: Invalid tag; invalid names, e.g. Tobacco, What's on my ballot? The group said the proposal would improve public health, equity and road safety ensuring tens of thousands more drivers are road-tested and commuting to work, school and doctors visits safely, legally and without fear of arrest over their status. CHICOPEE, Mass. Massachusetts Gov. "[1], The proposed law prohibited registrars from inquiring about an applicants citizenship or immigration status when applying for a driver's license or motor vehicle registration. Voters will weigh in on the question during the general elections on Nov. 8. [12] H 4805 prohibited registrars from inquiring about an applicants citizenship or immigration status when applying for driver's licenses and motor vehicle registrations. One of the documents presented by an applicant must include a photograph and one must include a date of birth. Charlie Baker's veto of its passage. Sen. Chris Trakel, R-Caldwell, made an unsuccessful motion to hold the bill in committee for further discussion. The bill passed by a slim margin in the heavily Democratic state, which was on the receiving end of a plane full of migrants who were sent to the state by Florida Gov. The law requires that applicants for a drivers license or learners permit shall attest, under the pains and penalties of perjury, that their license has not been suspended or revoked in any other state, country, or jurisdiction. School districts | Ron DeSantis. Under the law, a person can obtain a drivers license or learners permit in Massachusetts so long as they pass a road test, meet all other qualifications, and provide proof of their identity, date of birth, and residency. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. Cities | V oters will decide on four ballot questions in the 2022 Massachusetts elections on Nov. 8. "People that are in the country illegally should not be rewarded for their behavior by getting a driver's license.". Jay McMahon is urging voters to reject the ballot question and vote "no." The documents required to obtain a driver's license varied by state but included a foreign birth certificate, foreign passport, or consular card along with evidence of current residency in the state. Otherwise, committees usually kill a bill by voting to hold it. We cannot reward people who broke our laws to be here., The committee argues the law would attract more immigrants without legal status to the Bay State and would also place election integrity at risk by opening a backdoor for undocumented immigrants to use a drivers license to vote.. This makes our roads safer by requiring that everybody follow the same set of rules, Crighton, a sponsor of the law, said. .split-cols-bm { In the process, Guthrie predicted the new restricted licenses would make the roads safer and reduce costs and risks for all motorists by providing a path for more drivers to legally drive and obtain insurance. Maureen Maloney, one of the sponsors of the veto referendum, said, "I do not think that we should be rewarding people for being in the country illegally. @media screen and (max-width: 792px) { "This isn't an immigration issue. Thank you! For that reason, some law enforcement leaders have backed the measure, including the Massachusetts Major Cities Chiefs of Police Association. Why it matters: Massachusetts is home to more than 200,000 immigrants without legal status, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Why it matters: Massachusetts is home to more than 200,000 immigrants without legal status, according to the Migration Policy Institute. In what was a marathon session, the Minnesota Senate approved the Driver's Licenses for All act at 2 a.m. Feb. 22. Idaho Farm Bureau Federation members, Idaho Farm Bureau Insurance Company and the Professional Firefighters of Idaho also came out in support of the bill, while the Idaho Sheriffs Association and Idaho Freedom Foundation spoke in opposition to it. The documents required to obtain a driver's license vary by state but range from a foreign birth certificate, foreign passport, or consular card, and evidence of current residency in the state. Supporters of the Work and Family Mobility Act have said allowing undocumented residents to obtain licenses is a common sense public safety measure to make sure more drivers are properly trained on the rules of the road. columns: 1; [18] The House voted 119-36 to override the veto, with eight Democrats joining all 28 Republicans to sustain the veto. Charlie Baker on Friday vetoed a bill making immigrants without legal status eligible to seek state-issued driver's licenses, saying the Registry of Motor Vehicles, an agency that he oversees, doesn't have the ability to verify the identities of potential applicants. Sec. Massachusetts does not allow same-day voter registration. The Massachusetts House passed legislation Wednesday that opens a pathway for some undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses in the state, a move advocates say would make roads safer for all motorists and opponents argue rewards people for entering the country illegally. Applicants must also attest, under threat of perjury, their license has not been suspended or revoked in any other state, country, or jurisdiction. It looks like a bid to repeal a Massachusetts law allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain driver's licenses will make it on to the November ballot. [10][11], Senate Committee Approves Proposal to Issue Limited Drivers Licenses to Undocumented Immigrants in Idaho. } No more than one-quarter of the certified signatures on initiative or referendum petitions may come from any one county. .arguments-bm-widget li { The vote margin was 66% to repeal the law, and 34% to uphold the law. As a son of immigrants, I can tell you the passage of this legislation would bring hope to the undocumented residents of Idaho, Montelongo told legislators. Governor Baker supports existing laws in Massachusetts, enacted on a bipartisan basis, that ensure Massachusetts compliance with federal REAL ID requirements and enable those who demonstrate lawful presence in the United States to obtain a license, Terry MacCormack, a spokesman for the governor, told MassLive on Tuesday. "Ensuring all Massachusetts drivers meet the necessary identification, registration and testing requirements for driving just simply makes the roads safer,"Sekhavat said. All Massachusetts families need peace of mind knowing that the drivers on our highways and city streets have passed the same driving test and know the rules of our roads., Jeneczka Roman, advocacy and coalition manager at the Massachusetts Public Health Association, described the bill as a key tool for a healthier and more just commonwealth.. Massachusetts does not require proof of citizenship for voter registration. The MassGOP-led push to repeal the law through the ballot question began in June, with a kick-off from Diehl and his running mate, now Republican nominee for lieutenant governor Leah Allen. You can try, With Senate override vote, driver's license bill becomes law, House votes to override Baker's veto of licensing bill, Baker vetoes immigrant license access bill. Under current legislation, undocumented immigrants are not allowed to have a license in Massachusetts. } Using the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level (FKGL) and Flesch Reading Ease (FRE) formulas, Ballotpedia scored the readability of the ballot title and summary for this measure. Examples of acceptable identification include: a driver's license, state-issued ID card, recent utility bill, rent receipt, lease, a copy of a voter registration affidavit, or any other printed identification which contains the voter's name and address. The word count for the ballot title is 21. First up is legislation known as the Restore the Vote bill, having passed the Having access to a drivers license allows people to better access work and school. color:white !important; Other members of the Idaho Sheriffs Association also spoke in opposition to restricted drivers licenses. The Flesch-Kincaid formulas account for the number of words, syllables, and sentences in a text; they do not account for the difficulty of the ideas in the text. The committee reported $3.6 million in contributions. PODER of Idaho is an organization that works to empower the Latinx and immigrant communities in the areas of immigrant rights, economic justice, education and social justice. Roberta Fitzpatrick, Arbella Insurances managing attorney, noted that in the first four years after Connecticut passed its drivers license bill in 2015, more than 50,000 undocumented immigrants have taken driving tests. In this, I think we might need the wisdom of the whole body as we debate and deliberate this.. Under the Massachusetts bill, known as the Work and Family Mobility Act, driver's licenses would be available to undocumented immigrants if they are able to provide documentation like a. Prior to joining the Idaho Capital Sun he reported for the Idaho Falls Post Register and Idaho Education News. Fernando Montelongo, who served as a student page in the Idaho Senate during the first part of the 2023 legislative session, testified in support of the restricted drivers license bill. Opponents of the law, backed by MassGOP President Jim Lyons, launched a repeal effort and garnered enough signatures to put the new law to a vote in yesterdays election. too many. The state has also seen a reduction in hit-and-run crashes and a steep decline in people found guilty of unlicensed driving, she said. She is from East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, and currently lives in the Boston area. "Allowing parents to drive their kids to school, take them to doctor's appointments or be in charge of carpooling to take their kids to soccer, all without the concern they may be separated if they are pulled over, will allow children of undocumented immigrants to breath and have a sigh of relief," bill supporters Sen. Adam Gomez, a Springfield Democrat, said earlier this month. All rights reserved (About Us). In February 2022, the Massachusetts House of Representatives passed a bill to allow undocumented immigrants to apply for standard Massachusetts driver's licenses. This isnt an immigration issue. Ballotpedia lists the positions of and excerpts from editorials supporting or opposing ballot measures from the editorial boards of certain media outlets. Visually, the restricted drivers licenses would be oriented vertically, instead of horizontally, Guthrie said. dosel significado segun la biblia. States issuing driver's licenses to immigrants who cannot provide proof of lawful presence. display: inline; Sarang Sekhavat, with the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition, said the law benefits immigrants and society as a whole. Undocumented immigrants driver's license law question likely to appear on November ballot A "yes" vote would keep the law in place, allowing undocumented immigrants a pathway to. He said 17 other states have implemented similar laws and hit-and-run accidents have decreased significantly. The FKGL for the ballot summary is grade level 20, and the FRE is 19. By Samantha J. Roman, and Dr. Beth Eagleson of Baystate Health in Springfield, said current fears of getting pulled over, arrested or discriminated against leads to public health and educational hurdles, as some workers avoid or delay doctors appointments, COVID-19 testing, getting vaccinated or attending parent-teacher conferences. What happens when providers turn to medication first? 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