(The Center Square) – Tennessee state Sen. Bo Watson says his bill allowing school districts to deny students who are undocumented was a financial one.
A bipartisan group of senators who voted against the bill said they thought the bill had a moral cost, including Watson’s friend from his home county, Sen. Todd Gardenhire, R-Chattanooga.
The bill passed 19-13 with several Republicans joining Democrats in voting against it. Schools could require documentation of citizenship, proof that the student is in the process of obtaining citizenship or a visa. The school systems could refuse to allow undocumented students to attend school or charge them tuition.
After the vote, people in the gallery began yelling at lawmakers.
“You are warned. Anymore outbursts and you will be removed and arrested,” Lt. Gov. Randy McNally said.
After the outbursts continued, McNally asked for their removal.
Gardenhire was one of three Republicans who spoke against the bill before the vote.
“It’s no reflection on the sponsor,” Gardenhire said. “He’s doing his job as finance chairman and I appreciate that. But I think this is a bill that we do not need in the state of Tennessee and it will not pay dividends in the future for the children.”
Sen. Ferrell Haile, R-Gallatin, said he believed the bill punishes children for the “wrongdoing of their parents.”
“I don’t think that’s the proper way to do,” Haile said. “We need to address the issue itself rather than using children as a pawn in this.”
Sen. London Lamar, D-Nashville, said the bill would create a “checkpoint” for schools and encouraged lawmakers to consider other options.
“While I understand our immigration system needs reform, this particular bill is in my humble opinion, goes against my Christian values, but I think is going to be very difficult to actually do,” Lamar said. “So I am hoping that we first dial this back just a little bit and let’s actually do a study and get the numbers. Let’s figure out how we are actually creating the process that doesn’t put vulnerable children at risk.”
Watson, R-Hixson, cited a January resolution from the Rutherford County School Board that said the funding needed to educate non-English speaking students is $3,500 more per student in his rebuttal. The board said school systems were experiencing increasing financial pressure.
“Much has been made today of social arguments,” Watson said. “This is a financial issue.”
Watson said the state attorney general would defend any lawsuits against the bill. The bill does not have a “remedy” for children who are turned away, but the bill doesn’t ban private schools or homeschool education, he said.
Several groups previously said they were opposed to the bill. The Tennessee Business Alliance said in a statement released shortly after its passage that the legislation is “bad for Tennessee’s economy.”
“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 education funding. All to punish kids who’ve done nothing wrong,” the group said in its statement.
The House version of the bill, sponsored by Rep. William Lamberth, R-Portland, is scheduled to be heard in a Finance, Ways and Means subcommittee on Monday.
