Migrant farmworker bill on its way to Ritter

A bill aimed at making it easier for Colorado farmers to recruit workers from Mexico is on its way to Gov. Bill Ritter.

With a 47-17 vote, the House today gave final passage to the measure, House Bill 1325, sending it to the governor.

The measure, sponsored by Sen. Abel Tapia, D-Pueblo, and Rep. Marsha Looper, R-Calhan, would allow the state to work with foreign recruiters to help speed up the process for obtaining a federal H-2a visa. Recruiters in Mexico could find workers, help them fill out applications for the visa and set up medical screenings for the laborers.

Colorado farmers have complained that tougher immigration laws and enforcement have resulted in a shortage of workers. Crops have been rotting in the fields as farmers try to find enough workers to harvest them, farmers have said.

Ritter's office did not immediately return calls seeking comment on the bill.

Looper, who was optimistic Ritter would sign the legislation, said Colorado was leading the nation on the issue of legal immigration with the passage of the bill.

"I'm already getting phone calls from farmers who want to get in the program," Looper said.

Under the bill, employers would have to pay for the workers' travel, housing and meals for the workers and the costs of obtaining the visas and workers' compensation insurance.

Workers would be issued special ID cards by the state.

The bill originally had called for employers to withhold up to 20 percent of workers' pay, refunding it only when the laborers return to their home countries. That provision was left out of the final version.

Looper said she and Tapia were planning to make a trip later this year to Chihuahua State in Mexico to meet with local officials about the program.

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