By Samantha J. New: With 32 votes in the affirmative to eight in the negative, @MA_Senate passes a bill allowing undocumented Immigrants to get drivers licenses @NBC10Boston pic.twitter.com/A02E6xmqXK. Brazilian Worker Center Executive Director Lenita Reason, center, delivers remarks around midnight rallying supporters of the ballot question. To register to vote in Massachusetts, you must be a resident of the state. No more than one-quarter of the certified signatures on initiative or referendum petitions may come from any one county. This isnt an immigration issue. All rights reserved, Sign up for our News Headlines newsletter, MA Senate GOP Leader Will Press For Driver Privilege Cards' for Immigrants, Mass. But Jim Lyons, chair of the state Republican Party, argues driving is a privilege, not a right. With your support, GBH will continue to innovate, inspire and connect through reporting you value that meets todays moments. Charlie Baker on the legislation.. margin-bottom: 5px !important; CHICOPEE, Mass. Idaho's bill would create a new driver's . If the petitioners submit a written request for the suspension of the targeted law prior to the referendum election, signatures equal to 2 percent of the total votes last cast for governor are required to both suspend the law and force an election. It prohibits the Registry of Motor Vehicles from asking about or keeping documents related to immigration status. -webkit-columns: 1; The new law will extend driving privileges to an estimated 45,000-85,000 people over the next three years, according to MassBudget. Everyone should have the right to access a drivers license regardless of documentation status., PODER of Idaho gathers 8,000 signatures for a petition in support of license bill. }, The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in support of the measure.Cite error: Invalid tag; invalid names, e.g. The state recently passed a law allowing undocumented immigrants to get a driver's license despite a veto from Gov. Alexi Cohan is a producer on Greater Boston. The new restricted licenses would not be accepted to purchase firearms, vote or board commercial airline flights. Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. margin-top: 10px !important; Listen Live: Classic and Contemporary Celtic, Listen Live: Cape, Coast and Islands NPR Station, 'Heartbroken' by the tragedy of war, a Ukrainian opera singer performs in Belmont, Healey's proposed budget a boon to education and the environment, Senate confirms first Hispanic judge to Massachusetts federal court, The woman who introduced MLK Jr. and Coretta Scott lies in an unmarked grave in Boston, The civil rights memorials that expose America's ugly history and warn of repeating the past. [3], .ballot-measure-endorsements p { California saw a similar drop of up to 10 percent per year. The word count for the ballot summary is 437. For a job order subject to the 2022 Final Rule, if the adjusted AEWR is lower than the rate guaranteed on the job order, the employer must continue to pay at least the rate guaranteed on the job order. } We cant keep telling them theyre essential and at the same time deny them the right to drive.. He noted that law enforcement officials have endorsed the ballot question for this reason. 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. Stream GBH's Award-Winning Content For Parents And Children. Research also showed Utah and New Mexico saw decreases in their rates of uninsured drivers by as much as 80 percent and 60 percent, respectively, following passage of their laws, according to the report. The Secretary of State's officehas certified the number of signaturesneeded to put the repeal efforton the ballot. BOSTON (AP) Massachusetts voters will get the chance to decide whether the state should reject a new law allowing immigrants in the country illegally to obtain state driver's licenses. Massachusetts Gov. .sbtotaltable td { 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.. [2], Yes on 4 led the campaign in support of a 'yes' vote on Question 4. 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. Applicants must also attest, under threat of perjury, their license has not been suspended or revoked in any other state, country, or jurisdiction. "This makes our roads safer by requiring that everybody follow the same set of rules," Crighton said. To prove identity and date of birth, the law requires an applicant to present at least two documents, one from each of the following categories: (1) a valid unexpired foreign passport or a valid unexpired Consular Identification document; and (2) a valid unexpired drivers license from any United States state or territory, an original or certified copy of a birth certificate, a valid unexpired foreign national identification card, a valid unexpired foreign drivers license, or a marriage certificate or divorce decree issued by any state or territory of the United States. Documents not written in English must be submitted with a certified translation. Crighton said residents should vote "yes" in the interest of safety. Interns wanted: Get paid to help ensure that every voter has unbiased election information. Senators have described the differences in the House and Senate versions as technical in nature and have said they will make sure they have sufficient votes for an override as well. Together, we can create a more connected and informed world. Charlie Baker has expressed his opposition to the measure, which would allow Massachusetts residents without legal immigration status to apply for a standard state driver's license, provided they show certain documents proving their identity. A bill to allow undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses in Massachusetts is all but law Thursday, passing the Senate with a large enough margin to overrule a veto from Gov.. Additionally, applicants must pass a road test and be in compliance with insurance requirements. "The Ed Trust report shines a light on the reforms necessary to provide equity for the more than 427,000 undocumented students seeking a higher education, a pathway to citizenship, and economic mobility. This breaking news story will be updated. First generation college student Stephanie Gonzalez Tena spoke in favor of the restricted drivers license, saying she doesnt want her family to live in fear of driving. A "yes" would uphold the current law to allow immigrants to obtain licenses, while a "no" vote would reject the new law. Business regulation Illegal immigrants in Massachusetts will be able to obtain driver's licenses after state lawmakers voted Thursday to override a veto from Republican Gov. In 2022, Rhode Island became the most recent state to enact legislation extending driver's licenses and identification cards to those without proof of lawful presence (SB 2006/HB 7939). While advocates continually push for accessible, affordable public transit across the board, we know this just isnt true everywhere or for everyone, creating gaps that require many undocumented immigrants to get on the roads for work or to help their families, she said. We couldn't do it without you. House lawmakers passed the measure on a 120-36 vote. BURRELL: Statewide, police in New York used to arrest about 57,000 people a year for unlicensed driving. Several health care providers and advocates said the move would also help address longstanding logistical challenges and inequities faced by the states essential workers and exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. In-depth news coverage of the Greater Boston Area. The effort ultimately received more than enough support to make the ballot. Idaho State Capitol building on January 11, 2023. Charlie Bakers veto. The Idaho Legislatures Senate Transportation Committee voted Tuesday to advance a bill that would create a restricted drivers license available to all people 16 and older residing in Idaho, regardless of their immigration status. The push to expand access to driver's licenses to qualified immigrants without legal status continues to gain momentum as public health professionals, business leaders, advocates and. Gambling But opponents have argued granting immigrants without legal status state-recognized identification would open the door for voter fraud in elections and would place too high a burden on the Registry of Motor Vehicles to verify foreign documents. What happens when providers turn to medication first? They will not be able to get a REAL ID. Essential workers have served in critical and heroic front-line conditions during this terrible pandemic, but have been left out to dry when it comes to their commutes, argued Fish, who also spoke as chairman of the Fish Family Foundation, which works with dozens of immigrant-facing nonprofits across the U.S. Leaving the moral and philanthropic cases aside, I want to speak as a businessman, Fish added. Summary of Proposed Changes to the AEWR Methodology and the Changes Adopted in This Final Rule The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday voted in favor of a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get driver's licenses. Everyone needs to get to work and get to school, so lets do everything we can to get people where theyre going safely.. }, 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. We ask that you edit only for style or to shorten, provide proper attribution and link to our web site. by Clark Corbin, Idaho Capital Sun February 28, 2023. @media screen and (max-width: 792px) { Ballotpedia features 395,437 encyclopedic articles written and curated by our professional staff of editors, writers, and researchers. Why it matters: Massachusetts is home to more than 200,000 immigrants without legal status, according to the Migration Policy Institute. If it becomes law, Massachusetts would join Washington, D.C., and 16 states, including neighboring New York and Connecticut, with similar laws, which have been considered in Massachusetts for nearly two decades a period thats seen significant updates in standards for identification required for licenses. Undocumented immgrants can get a driver's license in the following states: California Colorado Connecticut Delaware District of Columbia Hawaii Illinois Maryland Nevada New Jersey New Mexico New York Oregon Utah In this, I think we might need the wisdom of the whole body as we debate and deliberate this.. Signatures for a veto referendum petition must be submitted no more than 90 days after the governor signs the targeted bill or it is enacted into law. I think the RMV [Registry of Motor Vehicles] is not equipped to properly vet people coming to the United States from over 100 different countries."[4]. width: 50%; too many, The following were the top donors who contributed to the opposition committees.Cite error: Invalid tag; invalid names, e.g. 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. Ballotpedia lists the positions of and excerpts from editorials supporting or opposing ballot measures from the editorial boards of certain media outlets. The restricted license would cost $50 and be valid for two years. Otherwise, committees usually kill a bill by voting to hold it. Another 39.2 percent said they would vote against the law, while 4.2 percent remained undecided. Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (each updated 1/26/2023). The group contends the law helps protect public safety through ensuring all drivers learn and are properly vetted for safe driving practices. Firearms We urgently need to have [undocumented immigrants] drive legally, safely, insured and registered.. The bill cleared both branches with more than enough support to override Baker's veto. The bill calls for striking language in state law that blocks residents who do not have lawful presence in the United States from obtaining a license of any type in Massachusetts. 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. } This issue has for years been caught in the undertow of. The documents required to obtain a driver's license vary by state . .ballot-measure-endorsements td { width: 35% !important;} Fausto Menard Twitter Producer, All Things ConsideredFausto Menard is a producer for WBUR's All Things Considered. The bill was then. The Massachusetts State Senate on Thursday voted in favor of a bill that would allow undocumented immigrants to get drivers licenses. Massachusetts has implemented an online voter registration system. The committee reported $3.6 million in contributions. McMahon also noted issues with the Registry of Motor Vehicles and its capacity to vet foreign documents. Shortly after lawmakers overrode the governors veto, a state Republican Party committee member with backing from GOP gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl and the state party Chairman Jim Lyons filed paperwork to start the ballot question process to repeal the law. Massachusetts requires a two-thirds majority in the General Court to override a veto. } width: 100%; One committee was registered in support of a 'no' vote on Question 4: Fair and Secure Massachusetts. It will be up to the House to initiate a veto override, with a two thirds vote required in each branch to make the bill law. 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. After implementing a similar law, Connecticut saw a reduction of hit-and run crashes, and a decline in the number of people found guilty of unlicensed driving, an investigation by the GBH News Center for Investigative Reporting found. Leah and I will not sit by idly and watch the consequences of this bill take away the safety and democratic rights of Massachusetts residents.. The committee reported over $217,135 in contributions. Sheriffs in general do not feel that issuing this restricted driving card to somebody thats broken potentially broken federal immigration laws is not a good policy for sheriffs, Clearwater County Sheriff Chris Goetz said. A valid unexpired drivers license from any United States state or territory; an original or certified copy of a birth certificate; a valid unexpired foreign national identification card; a valid unexpired foreign drivers license; or a marriage certificate or divorce decree issued by any state or territory of the United States. Receive the latest news and breaking updates, straight from our newsroom to your inbox. It's about making our roads safer, making sure that everybody has to pass a road test and vision test and get insurance and to get a license in the Commonwealth.". too many, The following table includes contribution and expenditure totals for the committees in opposition to the measure.Cite error: Invalid tag; invalid names, e.g. !function(){"use strict";window.addEventListener("message",(function(e){if(void 0!==e.data["datawrapper-height"]){var t=document.querySelectorAll("iframe");for(var a in e.data["datawrapper-height"])for(var r=0;r
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