ANTI-IMMIGRANT BILLS THAT WERE VETOED BY THE GOVERNOR OF VIRGINIA RALPH NORTHAM
- Bill imposing restrictions on localities that welcome immigrants
VACOLAO opposed SB 1156 introduced by Senator Richard Black that sought to prohibit localities from adopting any ordinance, procedure, or policy that restricts the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
This was an unnecessary message bill that sought to stigmatize immigrant communities and the localities that welcome them. There are no Virginia localities that have passed restrictions on the enforcement of federal immigration law.
Link: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+sum+SB1156
History and status:
02/23/19 Senate: Bill text as passed Senate and House (SB1156ER)
02/23/19 Senate: Signed by President
02/23/19 House: Signed by Speaker
03/19/19 Governor: Vetoed by Governor: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2019/march/headline-839570-en.html
2. Imposing new obligations on localities
VACOLAO opposed HB 2270 introduced by Delegate Charles Poindexter. This bill required that the sheriff, jail superintendent, or other official in charge of a local correctional facility or a regional jail in which an alien is incarcerated shall notify U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement of the release or discharge of the alien forthwith as soon as the release date is known
HB 2270, chief patron: Delegate Charles Poindexter
Link: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+sum+HB2270
History and status:
02/21/19 House: Bill text as passed House and Senate (HB2270ER)
02/21/19 House: Enrolled
02/21/19 House: Signed by Speaker
02/21/19 Senate: Signed by President
03/19/19 Governor: Vetoed by Governor: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/newsroom/all-releases/2019/march/headline-839571-en.html
PRO-IMMIGRATION BILLS WERE APPROVED BY THE GOVERNOR RALPH NORTHAM
- Wage payment statements:
This bill requires each employer to provide on each regular pay date a written statement, by a paystub or online accounting, that shows the name and address of the employer, the number of hours worked during the pay period, and the rate of pay.
HB 2664, chief patron: Delegate Lashrecse D. Aird
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+sum+HB2664
History and status:
02/06/19 Senate: Referred to Committee on Commerce and Labor
2/20/19 Signed by President of Senate and Speaker of the House
04/03/19 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0836)
SB 1696, chief patron: Senator Frank Wagner (identical to HB 2664)
https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+sum+SB1696
2/20/19 Signed by President of Senate and Speaker of the House
04/03/19 Governor: Acts of Assembly Chapter text (CHAP0845)
2. Removing exceptions to minimum wage requirements:
This bill eliminates the exemptions to Virginia’s minimum wage requirements for newsboys, shoe-shine boys, babysitters who work 10 hours or more per week, ushers, doormen, concession attendants, and cashiers in theaters. The measure contains technical amendments..
SB 1079, (This bill is identical to HB 2473). Chief patron : Lionell Spruill:
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=191&typ=bil&val=sb1079
03/08/19 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 331 (effective 7/1/19)
HB 2473, chief patron: Marcia Price: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+sum+HB2473
03/08/19 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 330 (effective 7/1/19)
3. Helping immigrant children who seek protection from abuse, neglect and abandonment.
This bill will allow a circuit or district court in which there is a proceeding related to the custody or visitation of a child, upon the request of any party, to make any finding of fact required by state or federal law to permit such minor to apply for a state or federal benefit.
In terms of immigrant children, this bill will help immigrant children fleeing abuse, neglect, and abandonment in their home countries seek protection from deportation in Virginia.
Immigrant children and DREAMers facing deportation proceedings seek a form of immigration relief called “Special Immigrant Juvenile Status” (SIJS). SIJS is unique in that it requires a state court to issue a certain type of order before the child may even attempt to seek SIJS relief from the federal government.
SB 1758, chief patron: Senator Scott Surovell (Identical to HB 2679)
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+cab+SC10121SB1758+SBREF
03/19/19 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 631 (effective 7/1/19)
HB 2679, chief patron: Marcus Simon
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+sum+HB2679
03/18/19 Governor: Approved by Governor-Chapter 412 (effective 7/1/19)
For more information about this bill, please click here: https://www.justice4all.org/2019/02/24/new-va-laws-help-immigrant-children-seek-safety/
LIST OF BILLS THAT DID NOT PASS THIS YEAR
VACOLAO supports DRIVER PRIVILEGE CARDS
VACOLAO supports several Virginia House and Senate bills providing driving privilege card for aspiring Americans residing in Virginia as already authorized in 12 states such as Utah, Nevada, and New Mexico and the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. The below bills would allow immigrants to operate motor vehicles in a lawful manner as they go about their daily lives like getting to work, visiting a sick relative, attending a house of worship or taking their children to school. They would also help ensure that drivers on the road meet proper safety regulations and insurance requirements, creating a safer environment on the roads for all Virginians.
HOUSE
HB 1843, chief patron: Delegate Robert Bloxom
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+sum+HB1843
HB 2025, chief patron: Delegate Kathy Tran
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+sum+HB2025
History and current status: HB 1843 and HB 2025 were assigned to the six-member Transportation Subcommittee #4. Despite a room full of both bills’ supporters, on 1/25/19, both bills was tabled, meaning it did not get enough votes to be passed to the full Transportation Committee.
YEAS–Adams, L.R., Garrett, Collins, Miyares (4 Republicans).
NAYS–Carr, Delaney. (2 Democrats)
See link for video of hearing: https://www.facebook.com/130850813607672/videos/2357978540942838/
SENATE
SB 1740, chief patron: Senator Scott Surovell
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+sum+SB1740
SB 1641, chief patron: Senator Jennifer B. Boysko – http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+sum+SB1641
History and current status: SB 1740 and SB 1641 FAILED to report out of Senate Transportation Committee on a party-line vote of 7 to 6.
YEAS- Deeds, Marsden, Favola, Edwards, McClellan, Boysko ( 6 Democrats).
NAYS- Carrico, Newman, Cosgrove, DeSteph, Chase, Suetterlein, Peake (7 Republicans)
The room was full of supporters who testified in favor of these bills before this committee.
You can see the hearing at this link: https://www.facebook.com/130850813607672/videos/240567936857224/
Analysis of this hearing in SPANISH: https://www.facebook.com/130850813607672/videos/2223650797903250/
VACOLAO Supports In-state Tuition for Immigrant Students:
There were two type of bills. One for those applying permanent residency and other for DACA holders. All these bills failed in committee on a party line vote.
In-state tuition; eligibility, certain individuals who have applied for permanent residency
SB 1148, chief patron: Senator David Marsden
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=191&typ=bil&val=SB1148
SB 1640, chief patron: Senator Jennifer Boysko
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+bil+SB1640
History and status: On 1/17/19, SB 1148 was incorporated into SB 1640 and voted out of the Senate Education and Health Committee in an historic vote after many years advocating for this bill. The bill was received 8 yeah votes with Senator Chase crossing over to vote with all the Democrats and 7 no votes and was referred to the Senate Finance COmmittee. The Finance Committee voted to return he bill to the Senate Education and Health where this time it died with Senator Chase changing her vote to NO on 1/31/19.
YEAS–Newman, Black, Carrico, Cosgrove, Dunnavant, Chase, Suetterlein, Peake–(8 republicans).
NAYS–Saslaw, Lucas, Howell, Locke, Barker, Petersen, Lewis- (7 Democrats).
You can find the video of the hearing here: It is precisely at 57:00 minutes of the hearing
https://virginia-senate.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=3&clip_id=2494
HOUSE
HB 1882, chief patron: Delegate Mark Keam:
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+cab+HC10109HB1882+BREF
History and status: On 01/25/19 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (5-Y 3-N)
YEAS–Rush, Landes, Poindexter, Stolle, Robinson–5.
NAYS–Torian, Carr, Hayes–3.
HB 2388. Chief patron: Delegate Alfonso Lopez
Link: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+cab+HC10114HB2388+BREF
History and status:
01/25/19 House: Subcommittee failed to recommend reporting (3-Y 5-N)
YEAS–Torian, Carr, Hayes–3.
NAYS–Rush, Landes, Poindexter, Stolle, Robinson–5.
In-state tuition for individuals granted Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA)
SB 1055, chief patron: Senator David Marsden
Link: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=191&typ=bil&val=sb1055
History and status: 01/17/19 Senate: Incorporated by Education and Health (SB 1640-Boysko) (15-Y 0-N)
Supports Employment and Labor bills to combat wage theft and increase minimum wage
Nonpayment of wages; private cause of action by an employee.
This bill provides that an employee has a private cause of action against an employer who fails to pay wages to recover the amount of wages due plus interest at eight percent annually from the date the wages were due.
HB 1687, chief patron: Paul E. Krizek
Link: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=191&typ=bil&val=hb1687
History and status: This bill is dead for the year
01/29/19 House: Subcommittee recommends laying on the table (6-Y 0-N)
02/05/19 House: Left in Commerce and Labor
Increase Minimum Wage
This bill Increases the minimum wage from its current federally mandated level of $7.25 per hour to $10 per hour effective July 1, 2019, to $13 per hour effective July 1, 2020, and to $15 per hour effective July 1, 2021,.
SB 1200 , chief patron: Rosalyn Dance:
Link: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?191+sum+SB1200
History and status: Defeated by Senate (19-Y 21-N)
Supports bill that will foster trust between immigrant communities and law enforcement.
Remove provision inquiring and reporting of immigration status of persons charged with or convicted of certain crimes
HB 2392. Chief patron: Alfonso Lopez
Link: https://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=191&typ=bil&val=hb2392
History and status: This bill is dead for the year
01/16/19 House: Subcommittee recommends passing by indefinitely (5-Y 3-N)
02/05/19 House: Left in Courts of Justice
Oppose Anti-Immigrant Joint Resolution.
Senate Joint Resolution Commending U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
VACOLAO opposes this resolution as it ignores the harmful impact of ICE’s operations in the Commonwealth including the terrorizing of immigrant communities who live in constant fear of being permanently separated from loved ones. VACOLAO urges the Senate to instead send a strong message of welcoming Virginia’s immigrant communities who have brought so much benefit to our state’s economic and social development.
SR 255, chief patron: Senator Richard Black
Link: http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=191&typ=bil&val=sj255
History and status: This senate resolution failed:
02/06/19 Senate: Left in Rules