One of the lead sponsors of a bill to limit the ability of local police to participate in federal immigration enforcement is "optimistic" about its chances after a Beacon Hill committee gave itself more time to weigh the controversial topic.

Rep. Ruth Balser, who co-filed the bill known as the Safe Communities Act, said Thursday that she believes the Public Safety Committee's decision to extend until May 1 its deadline to decide what to do with the legislation is a "good sign" that the idea is still in the running. Most committees had to make recommendations on bills under their purview by Feb. 5, unless they got an extension.

"I believe the committee is really seriously considering it, so I'm hopeful," Balser, a Newton Democrat, told the News Service after a distracted driving awareness event in her hometown.

Last session, the Senate adopted language similar to the current bill in a budget amendment by a 25-19 vote, but the language died in negotiations with the House. The current legislation (H 3573 / S 1401) drew passionate crowds to the State House for a hearing hearing in late January.

Balser said she does not know where the Public Safety Committee's chairs stand on the proposal, but she said she senses an "openness" and that the panel is "looking very seriously at the language." She has been contacting police chiefs seeking feedback on the proposal, which could lead to "a little bit of rewriting and tweaking."

The idea has generated heated debate, with supporters arguing it is necessary to improve community-police relationships and opponents arguing it improperly protects undocumented immigrants.

"I think that everyone would like to make sure the people who live in Massachusetts can trust their local police and that, if they need help, if they're the victim of a crime or a witness to a crime, they can go to their police and not worry that someone in their family who may have questionable immigration status may be targeted," Balser said.