ATLANTA, March 15 (UPI) -- Negotiators from the Georgia House and Senate have been tasked with working out a compromise on immigration issues, lawmakers say.
A 34-21 vote by the Georgia Senate on an immigration measure has set up a showdown with the House over citizenship checks, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported.
The Senate passed a measure Monday requiring many private businesses to verify the immigration status of their workers.
The Senate bill exempts farmers and other employees who hire migrant workers through a guest worker program.
Earlier this month, the House passed tougher and more comprehensive immigration legislation.
House Bill 87 is twice as long as Senate Bill 40 and would block employers who fail to use E-Verify from getting official licenses, certificates and other documents needed to do business in Georgia.
Both bills authorize police to question suspects about their status under certain circumstances.
However, the House bill would punish certain people who knowingly transport for harbor illegal immigrants and would penalize those who use fake identification to get a job.
