Senate Passes Legal Presence Bill Intact 3-30-09

The Maryland Senate stood firm this evening in its commitment to require legal presence for drivers licenses issued by the Motor Vehicle Administration. 

By a vote of 36 yeas and 11 nays, Senate Bill 369 Vehicle Laws – Proof of Lawful Presence Act of 2009 passed third reader in a late night voting session.

The Senate vote is in sharp contrast to the fate of similar legislation in the House of Delegates where the House Judiciary Committee amended the bill to create a two-tiered licensing system so that applicants without proof of legal presence could still obtain a drivers' license.  The second tier license would be marked "not federally compliant" and would not be accepted for identification at airports and federal buildings.  The House bill passed third reader earlier today by a vote of 77 yeas to 60 nays.

Supporters of the legislation cited testimony by representatives of the Motor Vehicle Administration that a single-tiered system was necessary to stem the rising incidents of fraud in the licensing process.  The role of Maryland as a magnet for illegal immigrants in obtaining fraudulent licenses was the subject of a Washington Post article last Saturday (click here).

The Senate bill could be implemented within existing resources and not require additional state funding.  The fiscal note estimates that the two-tiered system in the House bill would cost in excess of $30 million.

After today's vote, the bills will pass to the opposite chambers for consideration prior to the close of the session in two weeks.

SEQ NO. 665 MAR 30, 2009 10:28 PM

Senate of Maryland
2009 Regular Session

SB 369 Third Reading (SB) Calendar No. 56
Sen. Stone et al (JPR)
Vehicle Laws - Proof of Lawful Presence Act of 2009
On Third Reading

PRESIDING: MR.PRESIDENT

LEGISLATIVE DATE
MAR 28, 2009

36 YEAS    11 NAYS    0 EXC    0 NOT VOTING    0 EXCUSED (ABSENT)


VOTING YEA - 36

MR.PRESIDENT    FOREHAND       KING                      PETERS
ASTLE                     FROSH               KITTLEMAN          PIPKIN
BRINKLEY              GARAGIOLA       KLAUSMEIER      RASKIN
BROCHIN                GLASSMAN       KRAMER               ROBEY
COLBURN              GREENIP            MCFADDEN         ROSAPEPE
DEGRANGE           HAINES               MIDDLETON        SIMONAIRE
DELLA                     HARRIS               MOONEY              STOLTZFUS
DYSON                    JACOBS             MUNSON               STONE
EDWARDS             KASEMEYER     MUSE                    ZIRKIN

VOTING NAY - 11

CONWAY                GLADDEN          KELLEY                PINSKY
CURRIE                   HARRINGTON    LENETT                PUGH
EXUM                      JONES                MADALENO

NOT VOTING - 0

EXCUSED FROM VOTING - 0


EXCUSED (ABSENT) - 0