SC State lawmakers file immigration bills

COLUMBIA --Immigration reform is at the top of many state lawmakers' lists, and reform appears likely during this year's session.
Wednesday marked the first deadline for lawmakers to pre-file bills for the upcoming session that begins Jan. 8.
Bills for the S.C. Senate were available online Wednesday. House bills won't be available until today.
Three of 32 Senate bills deal with immigration changes. Highlights include:
Giving the state more control in deciding what government services to provide or deny undocumented immigrants
Requiring all state agencies, like the Department of Motor Vehicles, to offer services, publications and videos in an English-only format unless otherwise required by federal law
Requiring employers and contractors to verify that new employees are in the country legally by running their Social Security numbers through a federal database; also, establishing a SLED unit to investigate and arrest those who prepare and sell fraudulent IDs.
State Sen. Dick Elliott, D-Horry, one the bill's sponsors, said the long-term cost of illegal immigrants in the state could be catastrophic if the issue isn't addressed now.
"When they get old and they're in nursing homes, imagine the burden to taxpayers unless we begin dealing with the problem today," Elliott said. "That will far outweigh the cost of food stamps and other subsidies that we are giving today."