The House Motor Vehicles Committee on Tuesday stripped the “noncitizen” label provision from House Bill 136, which would allow people to keep their old driver’s licenses when they renew them. Later Tuesday, a subcommittee of the House Public Safety and Homeland Security Committee discussed House Bill 324, which also would require the “noncitizen” language. Rep. Alan Powell, R-Hartwell, sponsored both “noncitizen” measures. He said stamping driver’s licenses with the term would prevent ineligible people from registering to vote, getting a weapons permit or taking advantage of other services reserved for citizens. “The driver’s license is the standard first form of ID,” Powell said at the public safety subcommittee meeting. “That’s the reason I thought it needed to be stamped.”
Last year the state Department of Driver Services issued 229,932 licenses or ID cards to noncitizens. All of them would be subject to the noncitizens driver’s license provision.
Some legislators questioned the need for the legislation. State Rep. Mike Glanton, D-Jonesboro, said the “noncitizen” label could expose people to discrimination and violate federal law.
“I’m not disagreeing with the intent,” Glanton said. “What I disagree with is the method.”
Full Article: Georgia Legislature: Drivers who aren’t citizens become an issue.