Legislative Pinata -- DOA

A sweeping anti-immigration measure filed by Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustis, could have the dubious distinction of being the legislation least likely to pass for the 2010 session. SB 856 has more committee references than any other bill filed so far this year.

Baker's bill has been referred by Senate President Jeff Atwater to seven separate committees, which amounts to a virtual death march of legislative landmines, poison-pill amendments, bad press, etc.

The "Florida Illegal Immigration Reform Act" has a number of provisions including requiring lottery winners to be citizens or legal residents, prohibiting cities and counties from adopting laws dealing with illegal immigrants, requiring public employers to verify citizenship status, and blocking illegal immigrants from attending public schools.

Popular as these ideas may be, it's clear that the Republican leadership and the business community have no stomach for them this year. When Californians, led by then-Gov. Pete Wilson, passed a proposition that incorporated some of these elements back in the 1980s, it was overturned by federal courts.

Baker joked that SB 856 was a "personal best" with seven committees referrals. He acknowledged that there is no way for the bill in its current form to get through the Legislature.

"Our sessions don't last long enough to go through seven committees of reference," he said.

Baker said he and the House sponsor, Rep. Janet Adkins, R-Fernandina Beach, plan to offer up a stripped down version that may have a better chance of passing. An analysis of 2010 bills shows that one, SB 1202, has six committees of references. Nearly 50 bills have been referred to five committees.