12/2/03 - A bill before the governor would repeal SB60 allowing illegal immigrants to obtain valid driver’s licenses. For more information, see SBX3 1.

9/8/03 - Gov. Gray Davis has signed a bill that allows many illegal immigrants to obtain legal California driver’s licenses.
Under previous state law, a person who wanted to obtain a driver’s license had to present a valid social security number. Illegal immigrants do not have valid numbers.
SB60, written by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, allows people who are not eligible for social security numbers to submit other documents deemed acceptable to the state to get a driver’s license. Those documents could include a federal taxpayer identification number or a birth certificate from a foreign government.
The bill’s new benefits for undocumented workers would not extend to commercial driver’s licenses.

9/3/03 - The Assembly has approved a bill that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain legal California driver’s licenses.
Current state law requires a person who wants to obtain a driver’s license to present a valid social security number. Illegal immigrants do not have valid numbers.
Under SB60, people who are not eligible for social security numbers can submit other documents deemed acceptable to the state to get a driver’s license. Those documents could include a federal taxpayer identification number or a birth certificate from a foreign government.
The bill passed the full Assembly Sept. 2 by a vote of 44-31. It passed the Senate June 4 by a vote of 24-14, but the Senate must now approve the Assembly’s amendments before the bill can go to Gov. Gray Davis for his signature.
The bill’s new benefits for undocumented workers would not extend to commercial driver’s licenses.
It also contains other provisions, including an increase in license fees that would generate $330 million for the state.

8/22/03 - Democrats in the Senate have put the brakes on a bill that would allow some undocumented immigrants to obtain driver’s licenses.
SB60, written by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee Aug. 20 by a vote of 16-7.
Under current California law, a person who wants to obtain a driver’s license must present a valid social security number. People who immigrated into the United States illegally do not have valid numbers, and therefore cannot get a license.
SB60 is designed to change that. Under the bill’s current text, people who are not eligible for social security numbers can submit other documents deemed acceptable to the state to get a driver’s license. Those documents could include a federal taxpayer identification number or a birth certificate from a foreign government.
The bill has been the subject of numerous amendments, which spurred concerns on the part of Senate Democrats. Senate members said they wanted to review all the amendments before the bill moved forward.
The bill’s proposed benefits for undocumented workers would not extend to commercial driver’s licenses.
For bill status, call (916) 445-4251.

8/21/03 - A bill that would allow illegal immigrants to obtain legal California driver’s licenses has received approval from an Assembly panel.
SB60, written by Sen. Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, passed the Assembly Appropriations Committee Aug. 20 by a vote of 16-7.
Under current California law, a person who wants to obtain a driver’s license must present a valid social security number. People who immigrated into the United States illegally do not have valid numbers, and therefore cannot get a license.
SB60 is designed to change that. Under the bill, people who are not eligible for social security numbers can submit other documents deemed acceptable to the state to get a driver’s license. Those documents could include a federal taxpayer identification number or a birth certificate from a foreign government.
However, the bill’s new benefits for undocumented workers would not extend to commercial driver’s licenses.
The bill also contains other provisions, including an increase in license fees that would generate $330 million for the state.
It passed the Senate June 4 by a vote of 24-14, but still must pass in the full Assembly. For bill status, call (916) 445-4251.