Texas Weighing Bill Giving Driver’s Permits to Undocumented Immigrants [Immigration Reform 2015 News Updates]

Of all Texas lawmakers with the ability to propose pro-immigration legislation, the one filing a bill is a Republican State Representative leading a city not known for its Latino population.

State Rep. Byron Cook, influential chairman of the House State Affairs Committee and top lieutenant to Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, put forth this week House Bill 4063, which allows driving permits to undocumented immigrants. An individual would have to pass a background check, reside in Texas at least one year, and renew their permit annual to qualify.

"Right now we have tens of thousands of people driving the roads in the state of Texas and we don't know who they are. We don't know where they live. It is likely they don't have insurance," Cook said.

Cook's sentiment is shared by at least ten other states that already implemented similar laws. On Jan. 1, Assembly Bill 60 went into effect in California, allowing undocumented individuals a chance at a driver's license for the first time since 1993. Department of Motor Vehicles officials prepared by extending hours and opening new DMV offices.

The DMV estimated about 1.4 million immigrants would apply over a three year span.

"[I]t would be a much better policy to have these folks run through the database, make sure they don't have criminal offenses, have them fingerprinted so we know who they are (and) where they live and - more important for all of Texas - to make sure they have insurance because right now these folks are for the most part driving without insurance," Cook added.

The Corsicana Republican's tone strays from messages presidential hopefuls Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio have sent over the last few weeks. More surprising, it is a sharp contrast to the so-called "sanctuary cities" bill GOP Sen. Charles Perry introduced last month.

Perry's bill which - as of Monday is heading to the Veteran Affairs and Military Committee - grants police the authorization to ask for proof of U.S. citizenship. Opponents argue it leads to racial profiling, as Hispanics would be directly targeted.

The irony of HB 4063 is that Dallas Democratic Rep. Roberto Alonzo has, for years, passed unsuccessful legislation. In Feb, Alonzo authored HB 68 which has numerous similarities to Cook's bill. The person must have lived in the state at least a year, must not have misdemeanors or felony offenses on their record, and must be 16 years of age.

The difference, however, is Cook's influence over the House.

"One of the most important factors of any legislation or of any amendment is: who is the author? So, that puts a lot of credibility into what is being done," said Lubbock Rep. John Frullo in speaking with the Amarillo Globe-News. "We know how the person looks at issues, we know what his constituency is, we know what his district is and people look at that when they look at a particular bill."

Latinos make up 18.5 percent of Cook's district, according to a 2013 Texas Legislative Council survey. A Pew Research Center study found Latinos represent between 38.2 and 44.4 of the state's population.