ACTION ALERT: HB747 (In-state tuition for DACA Holders)
Yesterday, despite a packed room and unanimous support for the in-state tuition bills for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Holders, by constituents present including representatives from universities from across the state, the House Education Subcommittee did not vote on any of the three bills and referred Rep. Tom Rust’s bill, HB747 to the House Appropriations Subcommittee for review of the bill’s fiscal impact. While Delegates Lopez and Kory had very similar bills, the subcommittee recommended to refer HB747 (Rust) to appropriations. This morning, in the full House Education Committee, the bill was officially reported to House Appropriations.
The same thing happened last year when a similar bill was referred to Appropriations by the full Education Committee which resulted in the bill being left to die.
This year is different however as we have more time to act. We must let the Appropriations Committee members hear from us and let them now that we strongly support Rep. Rust’s bill and they must act on it quickly and send it back to the full Education Committee. Please contact The House Appropriation Committee Members and urge them to support HB747. See the contact and message below:
UPCOMING EVENT: VA Immigrant Advocacy Day (Make-Up)
VACOLAO is also organizing a make-up Immigrant Advocacy day for this Friday, January 31st. This will be an additional opportunity to make our voices heard about the In-state tuition for DACA Holders and other bills on VACOLAO’s legislative Agenda. To register for this event, see https://vacolao.org/events/va-immigrant-advocacy-day-snow-day-make-up/.
HB747 (In-state tuition for DACA Holders): TELL HOUSE APPROPRIATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS TO KEEP VIRGINIA’S BEST AND BRIGHTEST IN VIRGINIA!
REPUBLICANS:
Jones, S. Chris (Chair) (804) 698-1076 or (757) 483-6242 DelCJones@house.virginia.gov
Ingram, Riley E. (804) 698-1062 or (804) 458-9873 DelRIngram@house.virginia.gov
Cox, M. Kirkland (804) 698-1066 or (804) 526-5135 DelKCox@house.virginia.gov
Landes, R. Steven (804) 698-1025 or (540) 255-5335 DelSLandes@house.virginia.gov
O’Bannon, John M., III (804) 698-1073 or (804) 282-8640 DelJOBannon@house.virginia.gov
Lingamfelter, L. Scott (804) 698-1031or (703) 580-1294 DelSLingamfelter@house.virginia.gov
Poindexter, Charles D. (804) 698-1009 or (540) 576-2600 DelCPoindexter@house.virginia.gov
Massie, James P., III (804) 698-1072 or (804) 377-0100 DelJMassie@house.virginia.gov
Scott, Edward T. (804) 698-1030 or (540) 825-6400 DelEScott@house.virginia.gov
Peace, Christopher K. (804) 698-1097 or (804) 730-3737 DelCPeace@house.virginia.gov
Greason, Thomas A. (804) 698-1032 or (703) 203-3203 DelTGreason@house.virginia.gov
Knight, Barry D. (804) 698-1081 or (757) 426-6387 DelBKnight@house.virginia.gov
Anderson, Richard L. (804) 698-1051 or (571) 264-9983 DelRAnderson@house.virginia.gov
Garrett, T. Scott (804) 698-1023 or (434) 455-0243 DelSGarrett@house.virginia.gov
Stolle, Christopher P. (804) 698-1083 or (757) 633-2080 DelCStolle@house.virginia.gov
DEMOCRATS:
Joannou, Johnny S. (804) 698-1079 or (757) 399-1700 DelJJoannou@house.virginia.gov
Brink, Robert H. (804) 698-1048 or (703) 531-1048 DelRBrink@house.virginia.gov
Howell, Algie T., Jr. (804) 698-1090 or (757) 466-7525 DelAHowell@house.virginia.gov
BaCote, Mamye E. (804) 698-1095 or (757) 244-4415 DelMBaCote@house.virginia.gov
Dance, Rosalyn R. (804) 698-1063 or (804) 862-2922 DelRDance@house.virginia.gov
Torian, Luke E. (804) 698-1052 or (703) 785-2224 DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov
Hester, Daun Sessoms (804) 698-1089 or (757) 625-8989 DelDHester@house.virginia.gov
Send them an e-mail:
DelRAnderson@house.virginia.gov, DelMBaCote@house.virginia.gov, DelRBrink@house.virginia.gov, DelKCox@house.virginia.gov, DelRDance@house.virginia.gov, DelSGarrett@house.virginia.gov, DelTGreason@house.virginia.gov, DelDHester@house.virginia.gov, DelAHowell@house.virginia.gov, DelRIngram@house.virginia.gov, DelJJoannou@house.virginia.gov, DelCJones@house.virginia.gov, DelJJoannou@house.virginia.gov, DelRBrink@house.virginia.gov, DelAHowell@house.virginia.gov, DelMBaCote@house.virginia.gov, DelRDance@house.virginia.gov, DelLTorian@house.virginia.gov, DelDHester@house.virginia.gov
MESSAGE:
According to the 2014 Fiscal Impact Statement issued by the Department of Planning and Budget, the fiscal impact of HB747 is indeterminate in the short-term and no anticipated long term impact.
“…Fiscal Implications: In the short-term, the bill may result in a fiscal impact due to a reduction in out-of-state tuition revenue if students who are currently enrolled or registered
as entering students, classified as out-of-state, become eligible for in-state tuition. However, the magnitude of a potential short-term impact cannot be determined because the number,
and tuition status, of undocumented individuals attending Virginia colleges and universities and meeting the requirements of this bill, is presently unknown. In the long-term, there should be little or no fiscal impact. Colleges and universities can accept additional out-of-state students to offset any lost revenue from any presently enrolled students impacted by this legislation. Furthermore, for all future enrollment decisions after the enactment of this bill, the affected students’ statuses will be known as in-state to the colleges and universities, allowing them to make acceptance decisions accordingly…” Please CLICK HERE for full text
Twelve states have passed similar in-state tuition bills. The concerns expressed in previous years—that such bills are not permitted by federal law, or that extending in-state tuition to this deserving group of students would require the states to offer in-state tuition to all U.S. citizens—have proven to be unfounded. Federal courts in Kansas and California have upheld their in-state tuition laws in cases making this argument.
This is a good investment. Mere net cost comparisons between in-state and out-of-state tuition rates ignore the fiscal tax benefits generated by immigrants including DACA holders and undocumented immigrants. College opportunities reduce dropout rates, saving costs in criminal justice & public benefits. A study in Illinois found the net fiscal impact negligible at best, and a study in California found that every dollar invested in closing the gap generated $2.60 in public benefits. Training university personnel in proper screening of immigration status is costly & undesired by the universities, while lack of training leaves the Commonwealth vulnerable to discrimination lawsuits. Educating non-citizens among us in the present means a more educated new citizen population when the possibility of naturalization is realized in the near future. Odds of educational and economic success improve for the American-born citizen offspring of immigrants when parents are more highly educated.
Thank you for taking action,
Edgar Aranda-Yanoc
Chair Virginia Coalition of Latino Organizations (VACOLAO)