03/12/10

BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ Idaho lawmakers concerned about illegal
immigration are going after people who create fake identification
documents.

The measure approved 6-1 by the Senate State Affairs committee
Friday would make creating false documents a felony punishable by
up to 14 years in prison.

The bill also gives employers who accept fake identification a
lighter punishment. They'd get a misdemeanor charge and up to two
years in county jail. Prosecutors would have to prove employers
knew the documents weren't authentic.

A lobbyist for the Idaho Business Coalition for Immigration
Reform, which represents the dairy and construction industries,
drafted the measure.

The coalition brought the bill forth as an alternative to
tougher legislation from Hayden Republican Sen. Mike Jorgenson, who
wanted to revoke the business licenses of wayward employers.


(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
APNP-03-12-10 1129MST<