A bill that would have allowed illegal immigrants in Florida to get driver’s licenses will have to wait until next year.

Sen. Rudy Garcia, R-Hialeah, last month withdrew his proposal to license illegal immigrants after law-enforcement officials around the state raised security concerns, the Orlando Sentinel reported. Garcia said he would propose studying the issue before next year’s legislative session begins.

The bill – S1630 – was backed by Gov. Jeb Bush, but it was quickly dismissed by sheriffs who questioned whether other countries could provide acceptable criminal background checks.

Bush said requiring background checks in Florida and abroad that meet law-enforcement standards “would be enough, along with the other requirements, to be able to give a temporary license to people that aren’t being deported.”

Garcia asked the Senate Transportation Committee to put the bill on hold. It was the latest setback to efforts to grant licenses to illegal immigrants.

California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger repealed a law in December that would have allowed about 2 million illegal immigrant drivers their to begin applying for licenses. He cited domestic-security concerns.

In March, Illinois lawmakers rejected permitting illegal immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses. Arizona legislators are looking to toughen the state’s requirement that driver’s license applicants provide proof of authorized presence in the United States.

Bill proponents in Florida said allowing undocumented immigrants to obtain licenses would not only make roads safer, it would provide security by creating a record of who they are and where they live, the newspaper reported. That information, they contend, could be used to track down terrorists.

Meanwhile, several state lawmakers have criticized the license proposal as a reward for criminal behavior.