CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Bills dealing with the smuggling of illegals and increased funds for industrial site access roads are moving on to the full House of Delegates after gaining approval in House committees Tuesday morning.
The House Judiciary Committee approved HB 4433, which deals with human smuggling and trafficking.
Del. Evan Hansen, D-Monongalia, said he’s concerned the results of the bill would impact church-related groups who often help immigrants. The bill’s language says those who knowingly transport someone in the U.S. illegally could be convicted of a crime and sent to prison for no less than 25 years.
Hansen said the bill criminalizes compassion.
“If the part of a congregation’s practice of their religion is to provide services to immigrants–are they going to start IDing them? How are they going to protect themselves from going to jail for 25 years?”
Hansen said the good activity will be chilled for fear of going to jail.
Del. Joe Funkhouser, R-Jefferson, supports the bill. He said the compassion has been exploited for too long.
“Their policies encourage violence, sexual trafficking, brutal, brutal things in the name of compassion,” Funkhouser said.
The bill moves on to the full House for consideration. A similar bill had momentum in House last year but did not receive final legislative approval.
Access Road bill moving
The House Finance Committee approved HB 4007 that will make more money available to build access roads to industrial sites.
The bill is part of the House GOP majority’s economic development agenda.
The original bill has been changed to give the state transportation secretary final say on how money will be allocated for the fund. The limit is currently $3 million, the bill takes the top amount to $6 million. The money comes from the state Road Fund.
Finance Committee Vice Chairman Clay Riley, R-Harrison, said the change doesn’t hurt the original intent of the bill.
“We’re not reducing the availability of maintenance money in state road dollars that are available but if there’s a need (for an access road) then they have the ability to put that in,” Riley said.
State Transportation Secretary Stephen Todd Rumbaugh said he supports additional economic development.
“I’m all about development and return on investment,” Rumbaugh said. “If I think there’s a business coming that needs it and it will help bring a little more money to us then we would help that development.”
The bill also heads to the full House.