Image Credit: TN General Assembly
The Tennessee Conservative [By Olivia Lupia] –
On Wednesday, the House Business & Utilities Subcommittee advanced a bill proposing to prohibit illegal aliens from obtaining professional licenses in the state of Tennessee.
HB1709 sponsored by Representative Mark Cochran, would no longer allow illegal aliens to become licensed contractors, realtors, and educators, along with other career fields.
In order to obtain licensure in the affected areas like nursing, teaching, or funeral directors, individuals would have to provide proof they are a United States citizen or a qualified alien. If unable to provide such proof, they would be required to show proof that they have applied for “a valid visa that would authorize such person to work in the United States under federal law.”
During the committee hearing, bill sponsor Mark Cochran clarified even licenses that share reciprocity with other states would be required to meet the proof of citizenship/lawful status requirement upon renewal.
“If your state, let’s say, the state where you were initially approved for that license, if they don’t require proof of lawful residency, before we acknowledge that reciprocity, we will require that proof,” Cochran explained.
He also pointed out the processes and procedures for checking paperwork and documentation are already in place for these licenses, so this bill would add no additional cost or burden to the state licensing boards for simply inspecting the additional documents provided by the applicants which prove their lawful residency status.
Democrat John Ray Clemmons argued that obtaining a copy of a birth certificate or other proof would place an additional cost on both the license holders, claiming this bill would place an undue “patchwork of administrative bureaucracy” and financial burden on working families in Tennessee. He also erroneously stated that “immigration status” is not a criminal offense, though that statement is verifiably false.
“To provide a birth certificate, green card, or visa doesn’t cost any extra money. The license holder, if they are a legal resident of this country, they already have those documents and we already have the boards and the staff in place to check those documents, so there’s no additional cost [to the state],” Cochran rebutted.
HB1709 passed the subcommittee 7-2 along party lines and will head to the full House Commerce Committee.
About the Author: Olivia Lupia is a political refugee from Colorado who now calls Tennessee home. A proud follower of Christ, she views all political happenings through a Biblical lens and aims to utilize her knowledge and experience to educate and equip others. Olivia is an outspoken conservative who has run for local office, managed campaigns, and been highly involved with state & local GOPs, state legislatures, and other grassroots organizations and movements. Olivia can be reached at olivia@tennesseeconservativenews.com.
