By Jim Turner

PALM CITY — An overflowing list of people seeking to speak Friday on illegal immigration reform efforts going before the state await state Rep. William Snyder, who has his own bill in the works.

Snyder, R-Stuart, will hold a two hour hearing on his proposed bill at the Palm City Library Friday, the time is set by the library, which has imposed an 8 p.m. cut off for the 6 p.m. meeting, as that is when the air conditioners go off and the alarms are set.

What Snyder, who on Wednesday applauded Gov. Rick Scott’s executive order to require state agencies verify immigration status of employees, hopes to get out of the meeting that he hasn’t already heard: Suggestions he says will make his bill better.

“Even if no one makes a suggestion, at least people have an opportunity to voice their opinions,” Snyder said. “It’s better they come there and vent than just sit back and hurl invectives my way.” His hope is that the speakers, more than 70 have requested to address the issue, and audience remain polite while understanding the emotions that have come with the issue.

“I think they’ll feel better if they can express themselves,” Snyder said. “If were them, I’d feel empowered, my state representative, I’m telling him what I think and he’s listening.”

Potential speakers were given until Wednesday to contact Snyder’s office to get on the list of speakers.

Snyder introduced a draft of his bill in the summer with then-state Attorney General Bill McCollum that in some aspects mirrors the controversial Arizona illegal immigration law enacted last year that makes it a state crime for non-U.S. residents to fail to carry alien registration documentation.

Snyder has been considering tweaks to the draft, potentially modifying language that would require police to check the status of suspected illegal immigrants during a lawful stop, instead require undertaking such a residency background only during a criminal investigation.

However, even with the first pre-session legislative conference set to begin Monday, Snyder isn’t ready to formally introduce his bill.

LIST OF SPEAKERS

The list of speakers for tonight’s immigration forum in Palm City

Immigration Forum-Town Hall Meeting

January 7, 2011

I. Pledge of Allegiance

II. Moment of Silence

III. Recognition of Elected Officials

IV. Opening Remarks

V. Speakers

1. Sheriff Crowder

2. Jack Oliver

3. John Parsons

4. Diane McKechnie

5. Adriana Gonzalez

6. Julie Knodelman

7. Betzy Rega

8. Carol Caso

9. Mary Jill Hanson

10. Christina Alavardo

11. Bill Landes

12. Mr. Robin Barker

13. Leonard Wein

14. Charlie Elliot

15. Renata Rodrigues Bozzetto

16. John Bozzetto

17. David Weber-

18. Manuel Casas

19. Jim Kuretski

20. Bob Cunha

21. Bonny Condon

22. Tim Paynter

23. Jim Pardick

24. Felipe Matos

25. Richard O’Brien

26. Ben Gaspar

27. Louise Cunha

28. Maria Zequeira

29. Jeanette Smith

30. Angelica Perez

31. Santos Sapon

32. Adam Davis

33. William Summers

34. Pastor Mark Boykin

35. Pamela Wiener

36. Pastor Monica Delgado

37. Ana Rodriquez

38. Sister Teresa

39. Jim Horn

40. Aileen Josephs

41. Shahid Freeman

42. Peter Upton

43. Ken Middleton

44. Antonio Silvestre

45. Deacon Jaime Zapata

46. Pastor Acosta

47. Manolo Diaz

48. Isabel Vinent

49. Milo Neelands

50. Gayle Zavala

51. Maria Gabriela Arauzo

52. Gunars M. Ozols

53. Diego Sanchez

54. Angelina Castro

55. Mark Scholl

56. Franklin Coley

57. Jose Antonio Tovar

58. Perry Bendicksen

59. Dr. Priscilla Johnson

60. Herman Martinez

61. George Schell

62. Andres Cruz

63. Alison Rampersad

64. Sarah Halper

65. Angela Cruz

66. Edwin Enciso

67. Jeronimo Camposeco

68. Eva Martinez

69. Dr. Ruth Doran

70. Jane Tierney

71. Pamela Gomez

72. Consuelo Macedo

73. Judy Safewright

74. Richard W. Spisak

75. Cristina de la Vega

76. Marc Sims

Rep. Snyder’s draft

State Rep. William Snyder, R-Stuart, has been working for months on an immigration bill — introducing a draft in the summer with then-state Attorney General Bill McCollum — that in some aspects mirrors the Arizona law, such as making it a state crime for non-U.S. residents to fail to carry alien registration documentation.

The bill also would require businesses to use a federal database to check the status of new hires and subject illegal immigrants who commit crimes to harsher penalties than legal immigrants or U.S. citizens. One aspect would be for anyone sentenced under the new law to pay for their costs of incarceration.

The bill also makes hiring day workers who wait by the side of a road illegal if the pickup impedes traffic.

Immigrants caught not carrying their documents face a fine of up to $100 and up to 20 days in jail.

Employers found to have hired illegal immigrants would initially face three years probation, during which time quarterly hiring reports must be filed. A second violation would target the company or employer’s state-issued business licenses.

It would take effect on Oct. 1, 2011.

Legislative illegal immigration reviewing begins Monday

The Senate Judiciary Committee will be the first body in the state legislature to discuss immigration, holding an “information-gathering” session starting at 3 p.m. Monday in Tallahassee, Senate President Mike Haridopolos announced.

State Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, has already introduce a bill in the Senate that like Snyder’s bill would make the federal violation of failing to carry registration documents by an alien also a state crime and would allow law enforcement officers to check immigration documents during a lawful detention if they suspect the detainee is not in the country legally.

“It is critical that senators collect information in a comprehensive and dispassionate manner before debating the complexities of immigration policy,” Sen. Hardipolos stated in a release. “My goal is for facts, rather than feelings, to guide us through this process.”

Other bills proposed in the upcoming session

Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, and Rep. Dwight Bullard, D-Miami, have submitted a bill that would offer in-state tuition to some undocumented students.

Sen. Nancy Detert, R-Venice, has filed a bill to prohibit state agencies from contracting with businesses that don’t participate in a program to verify its workers are legal.

Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, has filed two bills. One is Snyder’s, making the federal violation of failing to carry registration documents by an alien also a state crime. The second would require the Department of Corrections and the Parole Commission to set up a deportation program for state inmates and that aliens serve at least 50 percent of their terms before any controlled release.

Rep. Gayle Harrell, R-Stuart, has announced plans for a bill that would require businesses in Florida to use the E-Verify system to determine the eligibility of workers.

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