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Talking Points and Action Items on SB 590

Let us stop the distractions!

SB 590 seeks to create a copy cat profiling law from Arizona that targets people that look like
immigrants. This type of legislation is a distraction from the issues that are of real concern to
Hoosiers: creating jobs, strengthening public education, and closing the budget deficit in ways that do
not jeopardize the welfare of all Indiana residents.

According to Senator Delph's press release, "Senate Bill 590 requires law enforcement that stops, detains
or arrests anyone for violating a law or ordinance to ask for proof that the person is here legally if the
officer has 'reasonable suspicion' to believe otherwise." This is bad public policy for following reasons:

• Requiring some persons (only those who might arouse "reasonable suspicion") to
carry proof of legal status is a violation of equal protection under the law. Is the state of
Indiana prepared for the cost of fighting a constitutional challenge to this legislation?
• State and local police officers are not trained in immigration law, which
is second only to the tax code in complexity. They are already stretched thin by their
responsibility for public safety.
• Apprehending and prosecuting persons who commit felonies requires that
all residents trust the police. For this reason, police chiefs across the country
oppose having their officers involved with immigration enforcement.
• SB 590 "requires the Indiana Office of Management and Budget to calculate an
estimate of the total cost of illegal immigration on the state of Indiana." However, there
is no mention of the economic contributions of undocumented persons in Indiana. A
study done at Notre Dame several years ago showed that undocumented persons in St.
Joseph County contributed significantly more in taxes and business activity than they
cost for education, medical care, and other services.
• During a year of an historic budget deficit for Indiana, Senator Delph is
proposing to increase our state deficit by enacting a law that Indiana cannot afford.
(Fiscal Impact Statement
http://www.in.gov/legislative/bills/2011/PDF/FISCAL/SB0590.002.pdf)
• Several provisions of the bill require the use of E-Verify. In addition to the costs
of litigation to enforce these provisions, a report released by the US Government
Accountability Office (GAO) on December 17, 2010, points out that the system is still
significantly flawed. Saddling an employer with the burden of additional paperwork
to prove that they don't employ illegal immigrants is unnecessary and counterproductive
in today's economic climate.
 • Once this bill is enacted it will repeat the exodus of tax paying immigrant citizens
and businesses leaving Arizona.

While there are good reasons to oppose the remaining provisions of SB 590, we continue to maintain that
it is a distraction from the issues that are of real concern to Hoosiers. Let us not give a politician seeking
to gain easy media and political points a chance to miss the real issues affecting all Hoosiers.

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Call Today and ask our elected officials to stop these distractions!

Message to Legislators: “Hello, my name is ___________________ and I am calling from _(your

church or institution)__. Please don’t allow SB 590 to distract our state from the real issues
affecting Indiana! Indiana businesses cannot afford more red tape, our police are already
overwhelmed with budget cuts and Hoosiers cannot afford another unfunded mandate. Vote no on
SB 590!!! Please focus on the real issues affecting our state today!”

Whom to call:

President of the Senate: Senator David Long

(800) 382-9467

Minority Leader of the Senate: Senator Vi Simpson

(800) 382-9467

Speaker of the House: Speaker Brian Bosma

(317) 232-9657

Minority Leader of the House: Representative B.Patrick Bauer

(317)232-9600

Members of the Pensions and Labor Committee:

Chair: Phil Boots

(317) 232-9400

Vice Chair:
Members: