Colorado immigrant driver’s licenses deal goes to governor

· Mar. 23, 2015, 9:26 pm

Photo: Undocumented immigrant Aleida Ramirez of Denver with her drivers license — A compromise to fund a Colorado program granting driver's licenses to immigrants regardless of their legal status is heading to the governor's desk.

The bipartisan agreement partially funds a request from the state Department of Revenue to collect and spend fees from immigrant applicants and help with office staffing.

Timeline:

The Senate gave unanimous approval to the deal Monday, sending it to Gov. John Hickenlooper. The House had already approved it.

The revenue department initially asked for $166,000 to keep open five offices that handle the licenses, and potentially expand the program. Lawmakers readjusted the request to $66,000, allowing for three offices to be open.

State officials had only one such office available to immigrants since February because lawmakers were gridlocked on the funding request.

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