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H.B. 466

             1     

MIGRANT WORKERS AND RELATED COMMISSION

             2     
AMENDMENTS

             3     
2011 GENERAL SESSION

             4     
STATE OF UTAH

             5     
Chief Sponsor: Stephen E. Sandstrom

             6     
Senate Sponsor: Curtis S. Bramble

             7     
             8      LONG TITLE
             9      General Description:
             10          This bill modifies provisions related to government in general to enact the Utah
             11      Commission on Immigration and Migration Act.
             12      Highlighted Provisions:
             13          This bill:
             14          .    enacts the Utah Commission on Immigration and Migration Act, including:
             15              .    defining terms;
             16              .    creating the commission;
             17              .    outlining the general powers and duties of the commission;
             18              .    addressing integration of immigrants in the state;
             19              .    providing for the creation of the Migrant Worker Visa Pilot Program;
             20              .    requiring monitoring of the pilot program and reporting on information gained;
             21      and
             22              .    providing for implementation of similar migrant worker visa pilot programs.
             23      Money Appropriated in this Bill:
             24          None
             25      Other Special Clauses:
             26          None
             27      Utah Code Sections Affected:


             28      ENACTS:
             29          63G-12-101, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             30          63G-12-102, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             31          63G-12-201, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             32          63G-12-202, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             33          63G-12-203, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             34          63G-12-301, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             35          63G-12-302, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             36          63G-12-303, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             37          63G-12-304, Utah Code Annotated 1953
             38     
             39      Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
             40          Section 1. Section 63G-12-101 is enacted to read:
             41     
CHAPTER 12. UTAH COMMISSION ON IMMIGRATION AND MIGRATION ACT

             42     
Part 1. General Provisions

             43          63G-12-101. Title.
             44          This chapter is known as the "Utah Commission on Immigration and Migration Act."
             45          Section 2. Section 63G-12-102 is enacted to read:
             46          63G-12-102. Definitions.
             47          As used in this chapter:
             48          (1) "Commission" means the Utah Commission on Immigration and Migration created
             49      in Section 63G-12-201 .
             50          (2) "Pilot project" means the pilot project created under Part 3, Migrant Worker Visa
             51      Pilot Project, with the State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico.
             52          (3) "Pilot project memorandum of understanding" means the memorandum of
             53      understanding described in Section 63G-12-301 .
             54          (4) (a) "State agency" means an executive, legislative, and judicial branch department,
             55      agency, board, commission, or division, or other administrative unit of the state.
             56          (b) "State agency" includes a state institution of higher education as defined in Section
             57      53B-3-102 .
             58          (5) "United States nonimmigrant visa" means a visa issued by the federal government


             59      as provided in 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101 and 1184.
             60          Section 3. Section 63G-12-201 is enacted to read:
             61     
Part 2. Utah Commission on Immigration and Migration

             62          63G-12-201. Creation of commission.
             63          (1) There is created an advisory commission known as the "Utah Commission on
             64      Immigration and Migration." The commission is composed of 27 members as follows:
             65          (a) the president of the Senate;
             66          (b) the speaker of the House of Representatives;
             67          (c) the minority leader of the Senate;
             68          (d) the minority leader of the House of Representatives;
             69          (e) the governor or, at the discretion of the governor, the lieutenant governor;
             70          (f) the attorney general or the attorney general's designee;
             71          (g) the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture and Food appointed under
             72      Section 4-2-3 , or the commissioner's designee;
             73          (h) the executive director of the Department of Commerce appointed under Section
             74      13-1-3 , or the executive director's designee;
             75          (i) the executive director of the Department of Community and Culture, or the
             76      executive director's designee;
             77          (j) the executive director of the Department of Workforce Services appointed under
             78      Section 35A-1-201 , or the executive director's designee;
             79          (k) the director of the Governor's Office of Economic Development appointed under
             80      Section 63M-1-202 , or the director's designee;
             81          (l) three members of the House of Representatives appointed by the speaker of the
             82      House of Representatives, not more than two of whom may be from the same political party;
             83          (m) three members of the public appointed by the speaker of the House of
             84      Representatives in accordance with Subsection (2);
             85          (n) three members of the Senate appointed by the president of the Senate, not more
             86      than two of whom may be from the same political party;
             87          (o) three members of the public appointed by the president of the Senate in accordance
             88      with Subsection (2); and
             89          (p) four members of the public appointed by the governor in accordance with


             90      Subsection (2).
             91          (2) (a) The president of the Senate, speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
             92      governor shall appoint a member of the public:
             93          (i) who is a resident of the state; and
             94          (ii) with due regard for:
             95          (A) geographic representation;
             96          (B) diversity;
             97          (C) education, including academic post-graduate level degrees related to the immigrant
             98      community in Utah; and
             99          (D) knowledge and experience.
             100          (b) An appointment by the president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of
             101      Representatives, or the governor may include a representative from:
             102          (i) an immigrant or immigrant-serving, community-based organization;
             103          (ii) a philanthropic organization;
             104          (iii) an advocacy group;
             105          (iv) a business, including an immigrant entrepreneur;
             106          (v) a union;
             107          (vi) academia; or
             108          (vii) a faith-based organization.
             109          (c) The president of the Senate, the speaker of the House of Representatives, and the
             110      governor shall appoint a member of the public to a term of three years, except that of the
             111      members of the public first appointed:
             112          (i) the following are appointed to a three-year term:
             113          (A) one member appointed by the president of the Senate;
             114          (B) one member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; and
             115          (C) one member appointed by the governor;
             116          (ii) the following are appointed to a two-year term:
             117          (A) one member appointed by the president of the Senate;
             118          (B) one member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; and
             119          (C) one member appointed by the governor; and
             120          (iii) the following are appointed to a one-year term:


             121          (A) one member appointed by the president of the Senate;
             122          (B) one member appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives; and
             123          (C) two members appointed by the governor.
             124          (d) A member appointed from the public shall serve until a successor is appointed and
             125      qualified.
             126          (3) A vacancy in the membership of the commission shall be filled for the unexpired
             127      term in the manner provided for the original appointment.
             128          (4) (a) The governor or, at the discretion of the governor, the lieutenant governor shall
             129      chair the commission.
             130          (b) A majority of the members of the commission constitute a quorum.
             131          (c) A vote of the majority of the commission members present when a quorum is
             132      present is an action of the commission.
             133          (5) The commission shall meet at the call of the chair, except that the chair shall call a
             134      meeting at least quarterly.
             135          (6) A member of the commission may not receive compensation or benefits for the
             136      member's service, but may receive per diem and travel expenses in accordance with:
             137          (a) Section 63A-3-106 ;
             138          (b) Section 63A-3-107 ; and
             139          (c) rules made by the Division of Finance pursuant to Sections 63A-3-106 and
             140      63A-3-107 .
             141          (7) The Office of the Attorney General shall staff the commission.
             142          Section 4. Section 63G-12-202 is enacted to read:
             143          63G-12-202. General powers and duties of the commission.
             144          (1) The commission shall:
             145          (a) conduct a thorough review of the economic, legal, cultural, and educational impact
             146      of illegal immigration on the state and its political subdivisions;
             147          (b) conduct a thorough examination of Utah and federal laws relating to immigration,
             148      migration, and guest worker programs;
             149          (c) develop a comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable state plan to address:
             150          (i) immigration and the use of migrant workers in the state; and
             151          (ii) integration of immigrants;


             152          (d) make recommendations to the governor and the Legislature as to proposed
             153      legislation to implement the state plan described in Subsection (1)(c):
             154          (i) consistent with the respective constitutional powers, rights, and responsibilities of
             155      the United States and of the state; and
             156          (ii) to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the residents of the state;
             157          (e) advise the governor and the Legislature on proposed legislation related to
             158      immigration:
             159          (i) for the purpose of encouraging a comprehensive, coordinated, and sustainable state
             160      response to issues related to immigration; and
             161          (ii) upon request of:
             162          (A) the governor;
             163          (B) the president of the Senate;
             164          (C) the speaker of the House of Representatives;
             165          (D) the minority leader of the Senate; or
             166          (E) the minority leader of the House of Representatives; and
             167          (f) comply with Part 3, Migrant Worker Visa Pilot Project.
             168          (2) (a) The commission may request a state agency to provide the commission with
             169      information available to the state agency that the commission considers necessary to discharge
             170      the commission's duties under this section.
             171          (b) A state agency shall cooperate with the commission to furnish the commission with
             172      the information requested under Subsection (2)(a):
             173          (i) to the extent not inconsistent with law;
             174          (ii) within the limits of the state agency's statutory authority; and
             175          (iii) on as timely a basis as is necessary to accomplish the purposes of this chapter.
             176          (3) (a) In performing its powers and duties, the commission may invite testimony from
             177      the governor, legislators, state agencies, and members of the public.
             178          (b) The commission may consult with experts or other knowledgeable individuals in
             179      the public or private sector on any matter related to the commission's powers and duties under
             180      this section.
             181          (c) The commission may hold one or more public hearings that it considers advisable
             182      and in locations within the state that it chooses to afford interested persons an opportunity to


             183      appear and present views with respect to any subject relating to the commission's powers and
             184      duties under this section.
             185          (4) (a) The commission shall report periodically to the Legislature and governor on its
             186      activities and recommendations.
             187          (b) The commission shall submit an initial report to the Legislature and governor no
             188      later than six months from the date of the first meeting of the commission.
             189          (c) The commission shall submit a first annual report to the Legislature and governor
             190      six months from the day on which the initial report is submitted, or as soon as practicable after
             191      that date.
             192          (d) After the first annual report, the commission shall annually submit reports to the
             193      Legislature and the governor.
             194          (e) The commission shall provide any report submitted under this Subsection (4) to the
             195      public upon request.
             196          Section 5. Section 63G-12-203 is enacted to read:
             197          63G-12-203. Collaboration on integration of immigrants.
             198          (1) Consistent with the state plan described in Subsection 63G-12-202 (1)(c), the
             199      commission shall:
             200          (a) work collaboratively with federal, state, and local governments to facilitate
             201      integration of immigrants in the state; and
             202          (b) work collaboratively with businesses and community organizations to ensure that
             203      public input into the process is consistently maintained with regard to integration of
             204      immigrants.
             205          (2) The commission shall evaluate the structure and organization of government in
             206      Utah including state agencies, independent entities, political subdivisions, and school districts,
             207      and advise the Legislature and governor on how best to achieve immigrant integration in the
             208      delivery of services and programs in a cost neutral manner.
             209          (3) In its examination of immigrant integration in the state, the commission shall
             210      identify any measures that will bring enhanced lawfulness, economy, efficiency, and
             211      accountability to government operations.
             212          Section 6. Section 63G-12-301 is enacted to read:
             213     
Part 3. Migrant Worker Visa Pilot Project


             214          63G-12-301. Migrant Worker Visa Pilot Project.
             215          (1) With the assistance of the attorney general, and subject to Section 63G-12-302 , the
             216      governor may negotiate and enter into a memorandum of understanding with the government
             217      of the State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, through its Migrant Attention Center to create a pilot
             218      project known as the "Migrant Worker Visa Pilot Project" under which Utah businesses may
             219      obtain legal foreign migrant workers through use of United States nonimmigrant visas.
             220          (2) The commission shall recommend to the Legislature and the governor policies and
             221      programs that will educate, encourage, support, and facilitate Utah businesses in need of
             222      nonimmigrant temporary workers to participate in the pilot project.
             223          Section 7. Section 63G-12-302 is enacted to read:
             224          63G-12-302. Requirements for pilot project and pilot project memorandum of
             225      understanding.
             226          (1) Under the pilot project memorandum of understanding, the governor may commit
             227      the state, including the commission, to work directly with officials of the government of the
             228      State of Nuevo Leon, Mexico, including the Migrant Attention Center, to encourage, facilitate,
             229      and support the migration of legal Mexican migrant workers from the State of Nuevo Leon to
             230      Utah for the purpose of filling jobs with Utah businesses most in need of skilled and unskilled
             231      migrant labor.
             232          (2) The pilot project and the pilot project memorandum of understanding shall:
             233          (a) be compatible with the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. Sec. 1101 et
             234      seq., and federal policies, procedures, and requirements for issuing United States nonimmigrant
             235      visas to Mexicans qualified to participate in the pilot project, with particular attention to the
             236      following:
             237          (i) a Utah business hiring an alien through the pilot project shall demonstrate and
             238      certify that there are not sufficient workers where that labor is to be performed who are able,
             239      willing, qualified, and available at the time of application for a United States nonimmigrant
             240      visa; and
             241          (ii) the employment of the alien will not adversely affect the wages and working
             242      conditions of workers in Utah who are similarly employed;
             243          (b) require that the State of Nuevo Leon will provide Mexican migrant workers to Utah
             244      businesses who meet certain requirements, including that each migrant worker:


             245          (i) meets the legal requirements of federal law with regard to eligibility for a United
             246      States nonimmigrant visa;
             247          (ii) passes a criminal background check;
             248          (iii) undergoes standardized testing to satisfy the hiring Utah business that the migrant
             249      worker possesses the requisite level of education or skill required for the job to be filled;
             250          (iv) is issued a tamper-proof identification that includes personal information, photo,
             251      fingerprint, visa number, and an expiration date; and
             252          (v) will be notified by the Migrants Attention Center of the State of Nuevo Leon before
             253      the expiration date of the United States nonimmigrant visa of the date the migrant worker is
             254      required to return to Mexico; and
             255          (c) if a migrant worker fails to return to Mexico before expiration of the migrant
             256      worker's United States nonimmigrant visa, require the Migrants Attention Center of the State of
             257      Nuevo Leon to notify:
             258          (i) the Utah business that hires the migrant worker;
             259          (ii) the advisory group created in accordance with Section 63G-12-303 ; and
             260          (iii) United States Immigration and Custom Enforcement.
             261          Section 8. Section 63G-12-303 is enacted to read:
             262          63G-12-303. Commission advisory group to conduct study -- Commission to
             263      prepare recommendations.
             264          (1) (a) The commission shall create an advisory group to perform the studies required
             265      by this section.
             266          (b) The commission shall appoint at least one member of the commission to the
             267      advisory group.
             268          (c) The advisory group may work jointly with a similar group of the State of Nuevo
             269      Leon, Mexico.
             270          (d) A member of the advisory group may not receive per diem and travel expenses.
             271          (2) The advisory group shall:
             272          (a) study the process and results of the pilot project;
             273          (b) study the impact of existing federal law on the ability to meet the needs of Utah
             274      businesses and Mexican migrant workers;
             275          (c) study the current United States nonimmigrant visa application process from both


             276      the employer and employee perspective to understand:
             277          (i) the strengths and weaknesses of the existing law; and
             278          (ii) the United States nonimmigrant visa process and the implications to regional
             279      employment and security;
             280          (d) document the state and regional economic impact and security implications of
             281      existing law and processes;
             282          (e) educate both Utah and the State of Nuevo Leon populations on issues to create
             283      alignment around a shared vision; and
             284          (f) report its findings annually to the commission in a detailed report that includes
             285      recommendations to the commission on how to best address the challenges of immigration,
             286      employment, and security.
             287          (3) (a) The commission shall use the information generated by the advisory group
             288      pursuant to the pilot project to make recommendations to the governor by no later than one
             289      year after the day on which the pilot project memorandum of understanding is executed.
             290          (b) The commission shall consider including in the recommendations:
             291          (i) observations and market recommendations;
             292          (ii) one or more proposals to amend existing law as necessary to accomplish the
             293      recommendations made by the commission and to meet the realities of current economic
             294      necessities;
             295          (iii) a recommendation as to whether, and if so, to what extent, the current caps on the
             296      H-2B United States nonimmigrant visas should be raised; and
             297          (iv) a recommendation as to whether the wait time between receiving H-2 United
             298      States nonimmigrant visas should be shortened.
             299          (c) The governor may report the recommendations of the commission to the President
             300      of the United States, Congress, and the United States Attorney General.
             301          Section 9. Section 63G-12-304 is enacted to read:
             302          63G-12-304. Expansion to similar pilot projects.
             303          (1) If one year after the pilot project memorandum of understanding is executed under
             304      Section 63G-12-301 the governor determines, after consultation with the commission, that the
             305      pilot project is successful, the governor may enter into one or more additional memorandum of
             306      understanding to create pilot projects similar to the pilot project with the State of Nuevo Leon,


             307      except that the governor may not enter into a similar pilot project memorandum of
             308      understanding with a country:
             309          (a) designated by the United States State Department as a state sponsor of terrorism in
             310      accordance with section 6(j) of the Export Administration Act, section 40 of the Arms Export
             311      Control Act, and section 620A of the Foreign Assistance Act;
             312          (b) against which the United States has declared war; or
             313          (c) against which the United States has imposed sanctions as listed under a sanctions
             314      program of the Office of Foreign Assets Control within the United States Department of
             315      Treasury.
             316          (2) After the governor has entered into one or more additional memorandum of
             317      understanding under Subsection (1), the governor, in consultation with the commission, may
             318      periodically evaluate whether to enter into additional pilot projects subject to the limitations of
             319      Subsections (1)(a) through (c).
             320          (3) (a) A memorandum of understanding creating a similar pilot project shall comply
             321      with the requirements of Section 63G-12-302 .
             322          (b) A similar pilot project created under this section shall operate in a manner
             323      substantially similar to the pilot project with the State of Nuevo Leon implemented under this
             324      part.




Legislative Review Note
    as of 3-1-11 3:31 PM


Office of Legislative Research and General Counsel


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