Home
House Members
Bill Information
Committees
Media Center
General Information
Past Session Archives
Quick Links
Directory of Representatives
House Leadership
Legislator Lookup
General Info
Bill Tracking
Bill Activity Reports
Floor Activity
Copyright Information
Dates of Interest
Subject Index
House Calendar
House Floor Schedule
Current House Actions
Past House Actions
Announced Legislation
Committee Assignments
House Committees
Committee Descriptions
Hearing Schedules
2009 Interim Committees
House Hearing Schedule
Senate Hearing Schedule
Latest News
This Week in the Missouri House
Video
Photos
Media Staff
Live Debates
House Debate
Senate Debate
Problems with Audio
Chief Clerk of the House
Journal of the House
Dates of Interest
Rules of the House (PDF)
Missouri Constitution
Missouri Statutes
The Legislative Process
House Information
Showing You, a student handbook (PDF)
Making The Law
How a Bill Becomes Law (PDF)
Glossary of Terms
House Staff Directory
Employment Opportunities
Intern Activities
Current Bid Items
Third Floor Rotunda Schedule
Visiting The House
2009 Regular Session
2008 Regular Session
2007 Extraordinary Session
2007 Regular Session
2006 Regular Session
2005 Extraordinary Session
2005 Regular Session
2004 Regular Session
2003 2nd Extraordinary Session
2003 1st Extraordinary Session
2003 Regular Session
2001 Extraordinary Session
2002 Regular Session
2001 Regular Session
2000 Session
1999 Session
1998 Session
House Bill List
Hearing Schedules
Calendar
Journals
Floor Schedules
House Hearing Schedule
Senate Hearing Schedule
House Calendar
Senate Calendar
House Journals
Senate Journals
House Floor Schedule
Senate Floor Schedule
Bill Search
Related Links
Related Links
Missouri State Government
Missouri General Assembly
Missouri Senate
Missouri Revised Statutes
Missouri Constitution
House Job Opportunities
FAQ or Email this website
House Communications - News
3/13 – House Gives Final Approval to Legislation Aimed at Keeping Illegal Aliens Out of Missouri Colleges
Jefferson City – The Missouri House gave final approval on Thursday to a piece of legislation that would prohibit public colleges in Missouri from enrolling illegal aliens. The bill cleared the House by a vote of 112-39.
House Bill 1463 would prohibit public institutions of higher education from enrolling unlawfully present aliens. Additionally, the registrar of each institution would be required to certify the institution had not knowingly enrolled any illegal alien before the approval of any appropriations by the General Assembly.
Bill sponsor, Rep. Jerry Nolte, R-Gladstone, said the bill was putting into Missouri statute what was already in federal law. During debate on the House floor he pointed to concerns regarding use of taxpayer money to provide educational opportunities to individuals who are here illegally.
“We’re accountable to the people of this state to spend their tax dollars primarily to educate Missouri students and those lawfully present. We need to focus on Missouri families trying to educate their children,” said Rep. Nolte. “According to federal law it is illegal for a person not legally in the United States to enroll in a college or university. While we are obligated to educate children K-12 regardless of legal status, there is no requirement to provide post-secondary education.”
During debate on Wednesday, House Minority Floor Leader Paul LeVota, D-Independence, questioned whether the legislation adequately addressed the problem of illegal immigration.
“I think the gentleman comes at this issue in a sincere way to say we need to do something about illegal immigrants feeling like they can break the law in the state of Missouri. But the truth of the matter is people do not come to the state of Missouri so they can go to college. They come to work,” said Rep. LeVota. “Where we need to have our focus from a state government level is first to ask our federal government to do their job finally and second we need to make sure employers are doing what they need to do and not taking advantage of the citizens of the state of Missouri and the workers. This bill does nothing to solve these problems.”
The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.
Return to List
Menu Profile
Classic
Default
Researcher
Student
Latest News
02/09/2010
Today's Stories
Live Audio
Floor Photos
Video Clips
d
Hall of Famous Missourians
Capitol Gallery
Legislator Look-up
Who is my Representative?
-
(requires 9-digit zip code)