The group submitted the proposed ballot measure to McDaniel’s office Friday, two days after he had rejected a version of the initiative for the second time. McDaniel was out of the state and unavailable to comment on the proposal, a spokesman for his office said.

McDaniel had rejected earlier versions of the measure because he said parts of it were unclear and because he said its length could make it vulnerable to a legal challenge.

The push for the measure comes as Arkansas continues to have one of the fastest growing Hispanic populations in the nation. Studies have concluded about half of Arkansas’ immigrant population lives in the state illegally.

Testimony last year concluded that Arkansas pays $170 million a year to educate, imprison and provide services to all immigrants, with the majority of money going toward education. But that estimate of state costs remains a fraction of immigrants’ estimated economic power in the state.

The Arkansas Friendship Coalition, a group opposed to any local or statewide immigration enforcement legislation, has said it will campaign against the initiated act.

Steve Copley, the coalition’s chairman, said he believes the proposal will be a “litmus test” for how Arkansans feel about immigration but said he believed it would be difficult for supporters to gather the signatures necessary by the July 7 deadline.

The coalition includes three of Arkansas’ largest business interests, Alltel Corp., Tyson Foods Inc. and Stephens Inc., as well as the American Civil Liberties Union and state appeals court judge Wendell Griffen.

“It unfairly penalizes (immigrants),” Copley said. “We think it would have a negative impact on the state of Arkansas because of the way it’s unfairly targeting folks.”

Click here to post and read comments