LITTLE ROCK, AR - - An Arkansas’ legislator filed House Bill HB1093 on Tuesday, January 13 that would ban illegal immigrants from receiving in-state tuition, state scholarships or financial aid, while another legislator is considering a bill that would have nearly the opposite effect.



The bill is called "The Arkansas Taxpayer and Citizen Protection Act." It would make it a felony to conceal, harbor or shelter from detection an illegal immigrant.



HB1093 mirrors legislation already on the books in Oklahoma, which has one of the toughest laws in the nation against illegal immigration.



The bill filed by Rep. Bill Sample, R-Hot Springs, says that illegal immigration "is a factor that can lead to economic hardship." The bill says the state shouldn't encourage illegal immigration by providing public benefits without properly verifying someone's residency.



The Arkansas lawmaker wants to create guidelines to better identify illegal immigrants.



Representative Bill Sample of Hot Springs says his bill will help state officials keep illegal immigrants from accessing services.



Rep. Sample says he wants an immigration reform proposal to specify the kinds of documents immigrants must possess to show they are in the state legally.



"This has been an issue for quite some time," says Sample.



He says his bill will address what he calls a major problem.



"If a person goes to take and get food stamps or goes to get health care, then we don't have a good way to ID who's entitled to it," says Sample.



Sample says cards like Hispanic community membership ID's can look too much like state-issued ones, and help people who are in Arkansas illegally access services.