Montgomery, AL – The Alabama Senate is debating an Arizona-style immigration bill.
The bill's sponsor, Republican Sen. Scott Beason of Gardendale, said Thursday his bill incorporates ideas not only from Arizona's law, but also from laws in Oklahoma and Missouri.
It provides for verification of legal status during traffic stops and requires anyone getting a state contract to use the federal E-Verify program to check the legal status of their employees.
The version being considered by the Senate is slightly different from one passed by the House two weeks ago. Gov. Robert Bentley said Thursday he's encouraged Beason and the House sponsor, Republican Rep. Micky Hammon of Decatur, to work together to merge their two bills.
(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)