Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2012

ATLANTA (AP) -- A legislative committee held a hearing on a bill that would bar illegal immigrants from attending state colleges or universities, but the chairman delayed a vote.

The House Higher Education Committee on Tuesday heard from many people, including the bill's sponsor, the chancellor of the university system and the commissioner of the technical college system.

The bill passed out of the committee last year but never made it to the House floor.

The legislation would bar illegal immigrants from all 35 of Georgia's state colleges and universities, as well as the state's 25 technical schools.

Committee Chairman Rep. Carl Rogers, a Gainesville Republican, said he wants to consider the emails and phone calls he's gotten and talk to the university system before bringing the bill up for a vote.

(Copyright 2012, The Associated Press)