A bill that would overturn a law that allowed illegal immigrants to obtain valid driver’s licenses is moving ahead quickly in California.
SBX3 1, which passed out of committee, moved to the floor and passed the Senate 33-0 all on Nov. 24, was given a unanimous thumbs up by the Assembly Transportation Committee just a day later. The committee also gave its approval to a second, identical bill that would also overturn the license law.
SBX3 1, which was introduced Nov. 19, would repeal SB60, the bill passed earlier this year and signed into law by former California Gov. Gray Davis that allowed the licenses to be issued.
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who was elected in the same vote that turned out Davis, had pledged to overturn the law.
Davis signed SB60 Sept. 5, only two days after it was sent to him by the General Assembly. At the time, supporters portrayed it as a safety measure, saying it would allow up to 2 million California residents who were not citizens to obtain automobile insurance and driver training. On the other side, opponents of the bill said it would undermine public safety by potentially allowing terrorists to obtain a legal form of identification.
The measure did not apply to commercial driver’s licenses.