SALT LAKE CITY — Lane Beattie, a West Bountiful resident who is CEO of the Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce, believes he’s found a way to “solve” the immigration issue.

A “Utah Guest Worker Program” would be set up, that would include federal waivers that would be needed to grant temporary work permits, with local officials enforcing applicable laws.

“If someone wants to work in the state, they apply,” which would then mean a review including medical (drug) and criminal checks, he told the Clipper Editorial Board in a recent interview.

The program would address the undocumented population by shifting costs from taxpayers and government to the temporary worker and employers for whom workers labor.

“This program will also allow Utah to aggressively enforce immigration law while fueling our economy with low and high skilled labor that will fill positions that cannot be filled by citizens or authorized workers,” Beattie said.

“Passage of this program will send a message to Washington, D.C., that Utah is prepared to solve this problem,” he said.

A “surety bond” would be required of the temporary worker, with funds accessed to cover enforcement if the worker didn’t abide by guest worker program terms.

Employers must sponsor employees at the time of application. Documented Utah residents must also apply from their country of origin. An applicant who is currently undocumented must be sponsored by the employer within three months of registering as a worker.

“Most of them already come with a job, but this would give them two to three months to find a job,” he said.

He called the process similar to the licenses which many people have to obtain to work in their professions, such as electricians or in various other trades.

Each guest worker will be required to obtain health and auto insurance. Use of FICA and Medicare Equivalent Withholding would help pay for that.

An additional 10 percent withholding would be taken out by the Utah Tax Commission and invested in a trust fund. Principle withheld from individual guest workers will be available to those individuals upon successful completion of their temporary guest worker status.

A one to two year permit could be issued, he said.

“We’ve talked with DWS (Department of Workforce Services), they will administer and run the program. Every group we’ve talked to has said it will work,” Beattie said.

The Chamber’s Legislative Affairs Task Force will carry a resolution forward, for possible discussion and action in the 2009 Legislature.

“This might be something that will start to be done nationally,” he said.

Turning to the new Broadway-style theater that is planned to host major touring productions in downtown Salt Lake City, Beattie said “this is regional. It’s everybody’s capital city. People will come in for major productions.

“It is needed. It has the support of the city and the LDS church. A lot of people can’t wrap their arms around it, but it will enhance everything.

“Larry H. Miller didn’t build the (now Energy Solutions Arena) just for Salt Lake City residents. It draws people from five or six states.”

tbusselberg@davisclipper.com