Signed by Governor Bill Ritter, Jr.

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that would speed the application and approval process of federal H-2A visas for nonimmigrant seasonal agricultural workers and guarantee them certain rights.

Highlights:

-Limits the program to 1,000 workers in the first year and allows an additional 1,000 workers each year for 4 years (Sec. 2). -Establishes the "Nonimmigrant Agricultural Seasonal Worker Pilot Program Advisory Council" to be composed of members of various committees from the House and Senate, the state commissioner of agriculture, the executive director of the Department of Labor and Employment, and three appointees of the governor representing agriculture, immigration services, and migrant worker advocacy (Section 2). -Requires employers in the program to pay program fees, reimburse employees for the cost of travel from their site of recruitment to the site of employment, provide transportation to and from the worksite, provide housing for employees, provide employees with three low-cost meals a day or free cooking and kitchen facilities, and pay for employees' trips back at the end of the employment contract (Section 2). -Establishes that this act will be repealed on January 1, 2014 (Section 2). -Appropriates $100,409 to fund this act (Section 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that would speed the application and approval process of federal H-2A visas for nonimmigrant seasonal agricultural workers and guarantee them certain rights.

Highlights:

-Limits the program to 1,000 workers in the first year and allows an additional 1,000 workers each year for 4 years (Sec. 2). -Establishes the "Nonimmigrant Agricultural Seasonal Worker Pilot Program Advisory Council" to be composed of members of various committees from the House and Senate, the state commissioner of agriculture, the executive director of the Department of Labor and Employment, and three appointees of the governor representing agriculture, immigration services, and migrant worker advocacy (Section 2). -Requires employers in the program to pay program fees, reimburse employees for the cost of travel from their site of recruitment to the site of employment, provide transportation to and from the worksite, provide housing for employees, provide employees with three low-cost meals a day or free cooking and kitchen facilities, and pay for employees' trips back at the end of the employment contract (Section 2). -Establishes that this act will be repealed on January 1, 2014 (Section 2). -Appropriates $100,409 to fund this act (Section 3).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that would speed the application and approval process of federal H-2A visas for nonimmigrant seasonal agricultural workers and guarantee them certain rights.

Highlights:

-Limits the program to 1,000 workers in the first year and allows an additional 1,000 workers each year for 4 years (Sec. 2). -Makes appropriations totaling $93,389 for this program (Sec. 3). -Establishes the “Nonimmigrant Agricultural Seasonal Worker Pilot Program Advisory Council” to be composed of members of various committees from the House and Senate, the state commissioner of Agriculture, the executive director of the Department of Labor and Employment, and three appointees of the governor representing agriculture, immigration services, and migrant worker advocacy (Sec. 2). -Requires employers in the program to pay program fees, reimburse employees for the cost of travel from their site of recruitment to the site of employment, provide transportation to and from the worksite, provide housing for employees with three low-cost meals a day or free cooking and kitchen facilities, and pay for employees’ trips back at the end of the employment contract (Sec. 2).

Full Bill Text