David Royse
the Associated Press
February 7, 2006
TALLAHASSEE — Florida should spend $20 million to create affordable housing for farmworkers, increase inspections of field safety conditions and pass a law requiring seat belts in vans that carry workers to the fields, a special migrant-worker committee recommended Monday.
But broader recommendations on providing access to government benefits for illegal immigrants may not be included in the final proposal from the Joint Legislative Commission on Migrant and Seasonal Labor. A panel co-chairman has objected to those issues because of their political sensitivity.
State Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Winter Haven, a citrus grower, said he thinks many of the difficulties the migrant farmworkers face — such as an inability to access health care and social services — would disappear if so many weren’t in the U.S. illegally. Many Floridians simply won’t support using tax dollars to help illegal immigrants, Alexander said.
“On a human level, these folks are our brothers and sisters,” Alexander said. “But politically, I’m sure a large part of my district would not approve of benefits for illegal immigrants.”
The commission did agree to support a number of changes that worker advocates have been pushing, including an Alexander-sponsored bill that would require seat belts in vans that carry farmworkers to the fields.
An Associated Press review last year found transportation-related accidents to be the leading cause of work-related deaths for Florida’s farmworkers.
The panel also endorsed increased safety and sanitation inspections of farm fields and farmworker housing, and adding 10 new positions in the Department of Agriculture for more pesticide inspections.
“On the whole, we’re very pleased,” said Karen Woodall, an advocate for migrant workers who has pushed for many of the changes. She said that even if the Legislature only deals with pesticide issues, housing and seat belts, it would be a big step forward for a group of people who often don’t get much attention.
“It’s 25, 30 years of coming here, and for the first time I’m feeling really good,” said Margarita Romo, a farmworker activist from Pasco County.
Other proposals could cost the panel’s recommendations some support, Alexander said. They include providing disaster assistance and health-care coverage to migrant workers and making their children eligible for in-state college tuition. Alexander also said he couldn’t support a proposal sought by worker advocates to allow them to have drivers licenses, which they currently cannot legally obtain.
“In my district, they just don’t support that,” he said. His district covers a wide area of south-central Florida from Polk County down to the northern borders of the Everglades, a heavily agricultural and rural area.
Alexander’s bill to require seat belts in farm vehicles has moved quickly through the legislative committee process and is already set for a vote by the full Senate when the Legislature convenes next month.
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