HOUSE BILL REPORT

                  HB 1446

             As Reported By House Committee On:

                      State Government

Title:  An act relating to citizenship requirements.

Brief Description:  Striking civil service citizenship requirements.

Sponsors:  Representatives Wang, Riley, Orr, Locke, Anderson, Miller, Mielke, Schmidt, Flemming, Wineberry, Jacobsen, Shin, Veloria and King.

Brief History:

  Reported by House Committee on:

State Government, March 2, 1993, DP.

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON STATE GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.  Signed by 5 members:  Representatives Anderson, Chair; Veloria, Vice Chair; Conway; King; and Pruitt.

Minority Report:  Do not pass.  Signed by 4 members:  Representatives Reams; Vance; Campbell; and Dyer.

Staff:  Bonnie Austin (786-7135).

Background:  State civil service laws do not require that state employees be citizens of the United States.  Some people living in the United States either choose to remain citizens of other countries, or have been unable to become United States citizens.  Federal immigration laws allow noncitizens to work in the United States under various types of registered or authorized alien statuses. 

Local government civil services laws covering city firefighters, city police, and county sheriffs require that these employees be citizens of the United States and that they be able to read and write in the English language.

Summary of Bill:  The civil service citizenship requirements for city firefighters, county deputy sheriffs, and city police officers are eliminated.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  These requirements are outdated and no longer relevant.  With the increase in Asian gangs, we need police who are able to speak foreign languages.  This bill does not affect firearms' laws or federal immigration laws.  It does not allow illegal aliens to hold these positions.

Testimony Against:  None.

Witnesses:  Representative Wang (pro).