Bill to ID illegal immigrant kids in schools delayed

April 8, NASHVILLE, (AP)– The House State and Local Government Committee has delayed for a week a vote on a bill that attempts to identify the number of illegal immigrant children in the state’s public schools.

The bill requires someone enrolling a child in school to provide the student’s Social Security number, birth certificate, visa or passport. If they can provide none of these, they must say so in writing.

The Education Department must include the information in its annual report along with the costs of educating those students.

The American Civil Liberties Union issued a statement on Tuesday saying the bill would chill access to public education.

The sponsor, Terry Lynn Weaver (R-Lancaster), said the state is required to educate all children, regardless of their immigration status.