Bill to deny education to undocumented students advances in TN General Assembly

From Local 3 News: UPDATE: A bill that would allow schools in Tennessee to base enrollment off students' immigration status continues to move forwards.

The bill was scheduled for action before the House Finance Ways and Means Committee on Monday morning.

It comes with a fiscal cost that is not currently accounted for in the state budget.

This bill was placed "behind the budget" without debate or a vote, and will remain in the ways and means committee until the State House passes a new budget.

Officials say it could cost the state more than $1-billion a year from the department of education.

Provisions of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 currently prohibit denying free public education to undocumented students.


PREVIOUS STORY: It was an emotional morning in the Tennessee State Senate as Senators debated Senator Bo Watson's immigration education bill that would give authority to LEAs and public charter schools to allow or deny children a free public education based on their immigration status.

It passed the Senate, 19-13.
 
Senator Todd Gardenhire was emotional as he spoke and voted against the legislation:
"I will be voting 'no' against this bill. I don't think it's a secret to anybody in here about my passion..." The Senator paused to collect himself. "..for children."

"If enacted, this legislation would create immediate, widespread, and needless confusion for families and school districts across Tennessee, to say nothing of the long-term damage it will do to our economy," says the organization.
 
Senator Bo Watson, who proposed the bill, also delivered passionate remarks during his closing speech, saying that teaching undocumented children was too costly to those who have another first language.

"I ask for your support of this legislation on a financial basis and to protect the fiscal interests of our state."

Although the bill passed, opposition of the legislation is rising from several local groups, including the Tennessee Small Business Alliance and the Southern Christian Coalition.

"This bill doesn't just cost us morally--it forces taxpayers to foot the bill to defend it in court, pay to implement it, and risks losing millions in funding," says the TN Small Business Alliance. "All to punish kids who've done nothing wrong."

The Southern Christian Coalition also issued a statement:

"As Christians, we are called to defend the vulnerable, especially children. This bill flies in the face of Christian values; Sen. Watson and Rep. Lamberth are using this legislation to attack children, when we should be loving and supporting them."
 
The Hamilton County Principals Association also released a statement in opposition of the bill. They ask the Hamilton County School Board to pass a resolution that would allow access to all children who reside in Hamilton County, regardless of immigration status.

"We stand firmly in the belief that every child and every community must be served. Our schools are not only institutions of learning, they are the heart of our neighborhoods, and they reflect our shared values of inclusion, dignity, and opportunity for all.

The bill will next be sent to the House Finance, Ways, and Means Subcommittee on Monday, April 14.