EASTERN ARIZONA COURIER

February 24, 200

Konopnicki's guest worker bill passes committee

By Jon Johnson
Assistant Editor

A bill introduced by Rep. Bill Konopnicki, R-Safford, that would create a state-run temporary worker plan has passed through a hearing of the House Financial Institutions and Insurance Committee.

The bill would allow Arizona to enter into a guest-worker program with Mexico in an effort to supply enough workers for rural farmers and various businesses. Konopnicki stressed this is a temporary worker program only.

“We want to make sure the program is not encouraging anyone to come to the U.S. for anything other than temporary work,” he said.

A companion bill has also been introduced into the state Senate by Sen. Marsha Arzberger, D-Willcox.

The federal government began considering an update to its guest-worker program, but it was quickly shelved during the election year. Its plan allows growers to hire foreign workers temporarily but has been criticized as too unwieldy to use. The Arizona plan would need approval from the federal government before it is implemented.

The bills require any guest-worker to be an approved skilled worker who has not committed any felonies in the U.S. or crimes in Mexico that would translate into a felony here.

Konopnicki said employers in the U.S. would have to recruit the workers, and nobody who was already here illegally would be allowed to apply. He said Mexico was the only foreign nation considered, not only because its geographic location, but because it allows access to its police records for background checks.

Once approved, the workers will receive ID cards that will allow them to travel back and forth from Mexico to Arizona, but not to other states.

A big supporter of the bills, Sen Jake Flake, R-Snowflake, said the farmers in Arizona couldn’t meet their labor issues before the worker verification program was passed last year, and they don’t have a chance at meeting them now.

While Flake and Konopnicki have said they staunchly oppose illegal immigration, they agree the workforce from Mexico is needed for Arizona’s economy to thrive.

According to Konopnicki, the bill will most likely be voted on by the entire House of Representatives early next week. If it passes, it will then be sent to the Senate for approval.

Konopnicki said the goal is to have his and Arzberger’s bills pass both houses and then be combined before being sent to Governor Janet Napolitano.