Tuesday February 5th was “crossover” day in the Virginia General Assembly when bills passed in the House of Delegates move to the Senate for consideration and vice versa. Bills that did not pass either house are dead for the current session. Most of the bills that VACOLAO supports this year did not pass. They were killed in committee and subcommittee on party-line votes. Two anti-immigrant bills (SB 1156 and HB 2270) passed their chambers and now will be up for consideration in the other chamber. The following are descriptions of the bills and their current status. Please note that this report will be updated as the remaining bills move through the General Assembly. You can see the updates at this link: https://goo.gl/VYiYhf
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
HB 2025, chief patron: Delegate Kathy Tran
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
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
SB 1640, chief patron: Senator Jennifer Boysko
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
HOUSE
HB 1882, chief patron: Delegate Mark Keam:
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
Wage payment statements:
This will 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
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
SB 1696, chief patron: Senator Frank Wagner (identical to HB 2664)
2/20/19 Signed by President of Senate and Speaker of the House
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 Bills
Bill imposing restrictions on localities that welcome immigrants
VACOLAO opposes SB 1156 introduced by Senator Richard Black that seeks to prohibit localities from adopting any ordinance, procedure, or policy that restricts the enforcement of federal immigration laws.
This is an unnecessary message bill that seeks 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:
02/19/19 House: VOTE: PASSAGE (51-Y 47-N)
02/20/19 Senate: House amendment agreed to by Senate (21-Y 19-N)
Imposing new obligations on localities.
VACOLAO opposes HB 2270 introduced by Delegate Charles Poindexter, as amended when passing the House, this bill requires 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
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