Home California Democrats Unveil 10-Bill “Immigrants Shape California” Legislative Package

Democrats Unveil 10-Bill “Immigrants Shape California” Legislative Package

by ECT

SACRAMENTO – Legislative leaders today announced a 10-bill package to protect hardworking undocumented immigrants from fraud, discrimination, lack of health care, and the unintended consequences of our criminal justice system. VIDEO (link is external)

 

“The Immigrants Shape California Legislative Package will not erase all the challenges our undocumented residents face. The work is far from finished,” said Senate President pro Tempore Kevin de León. “But this package demonstrates our commitment to making California a state that works for all of us.”

“With these bills California will again show the kind of practical, humane, and forward-thinking leadership that we hope can move the needle on the national discussion,” said Speaker Toni G. Atkins.

Assemblymember Das Williams, Chair of the Asian & Pacific Islander Legislative Caucus and Assemblymember Luis Alejo, Chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus spoke in favor of the Immigrants Shape California bill package, along with immigrant-rights advocates, and undocumented foreign-born residents. Also attending in support were Assemblymember Susan Talamantes Eggman, Chair of the Legislative Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Caucus; Senator Hannah Beth Jackson, Chair of the Legislative Women’s Caucus; Senator Marty Block, Chair of the Legislative Jewish Caucus; and Senator Isadore Hall, III, Vice-Chair of the Legislative Black Caucus.

Delia de la Vara, National Council of La Raza (NCLR) Vice President, California: “NCLR California is excited to support the Immigrants Shape California Legislative Package announced by Senate Pro Tem De León and Speaker Atkins. This package illustrates an unassailable truth: that immigrants are part of our economic and social engine, and that their fair treatment will only strengthen their contributions to California’s progress. Congress should take note; this is yet one more example of how California is leading the way.”

Advocates joined the legislators to support the legislative roll out: American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Asian Students Promoting Immigrant Rights through Education (ASPIRE), California Immigrant Policy Center, California Labor Federation, California Pan-Ethnic Health Network (CPEHN), California Primary Care Association, California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation, Central American Resource Center, Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Immigrant Legal Resource Center, Immigration Center for Women and Children, Los Angeles Center for Law and Justice, National Council of La Raza (NCLR), PICO California, and the William C. Velasquez Institute. WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING

The package of Assembly and Senate bills focuses on a variety of immigrant-rights issues, including: protection from unscrupulous employers and immigration consultants, ensuring adequate legal representation, affordable health care, protection for crime victims, and protections against discrimination from business establishments.

Immigrants Shape California Legislative Bill Package:

  • SB 10 (Lara) Office of New Americans – Bill Info
  • SB 4 (Lara) Health Care for All – Bill Info
  • AB 622 (Roger Hernandez) Protecting Immigrant Workers from Unscrupulous Employers – Bill Info
  • SB 600 (Pan) Civil Rights Protection for California’s Immigrants – Bill Info
  • AB 60 (Gonzalez) Thwarting Immigration Services Fraud – Bill Info
  • SB 674 (De León & Atkins) Immigrant Victims of Crime Equity Act – Bill Info
  • AB 899 (Levine) Juvenile Confidentiality – Bill Info
  • AB 1343 (Thurmond) Ensuring Due Process for Immigrant Defendants – Bill Info
  • AB 900 (Levine) Extension of Probate Jurisdiction to Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Children – Bill Info
  • AB 1352 (Eggman) Preventing Unintended Immigration Consequences for Rehabilitated Immigrants – Bill Info
Immigration Fact Sheet
California’s great diversity is made up of many different ethnicities, cultures, and the experiences its millions of immigrants bring with them.
This mosaic is a source of innovation and economic growth. By embracing our immigrant community and nurturing its wellbeing, all Californians benefit.
The economy grows; goods, services and homes are purchased; communities are enriched; and their contributions bolster our state.
Undocumented immigrants comprise nearly 10 percent of the state’s workforce – contributing $130 billion annually to its gross domestic product – concentrated in agriculture, food services, construction, textile, and domestic services.
According to data from the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy, undocumented immigrants in California paid $2.2 billion in state and local taxes in 2010, including $1.8 billion in sales taxes, $152.1 million in state income taxes, and $302.8 million in property taxes. If they were to obtain legal status in California, these revenues would increase to over $2.6 billion in state and local taxes, including $1.9 billion in sales taxes, $384.3 million in state income taxes, and $320.1 million in property taxes.
While Congress has failed to pass comprehensive immigration reform, the California legislature has taken steps to better protect all residents of this great state, providing avenues for immigrants into the economic mainstream and out of the shadows.
But there is more to be done.
The Immigrants Shape California Legislative Package is a testament to the contributions of these hardworking residents and our commitment to protect their liberty.
These bills continue California’s legacy of protecting its immigrant residents and providing opportunity for their socioeconomic advancement while ensuring equal justice for all.
Immigrants Shape California | Legislative Package Liberty
SB 10 (Lara) Office of New Americans: Establishes the California Office of New Americans within the Governor’s office to ensure that California has a comprehensive approach to immigrant integration, including coordinating multiagency, multi-sector efforts on immigration relief options, naturalization services, and civic engagement efforts.
SB 4 (Lara) Health Care for All: Extends access to healthcare coverage to all Californians, regardless of immigration status. The bill will expand Medi-Cal to include individuals who would qualify for enrollment in the program based on their income but who are denied based on their immigration status.
AB 622 (Roger Hernandez) Protecting Immigrant Workers from Unscrupulous Employers: Strengthens state Labor Code protections for all workers by limiting misuse of E-Verify and creating penalties for abuse by unscrupulous employers
SB 600 (Pan) Civil Rights Protection for California’s Immigrants: Addresses ongoing discrimination against immigrants by amending the Unruh Civil Rights Act to make it unlawful for business establishments to discriminate against a person on the basis of their immigration status, citizenship, or language.
AB 60 (Gonzalez) Thwarting Immigration Services Fraud: Protects Californians from immigration attorneys and consultants demanding an advanced payment for services related to a pending immigration reform acts, such as President Obama’s executive actions. It also requires service providers to furnish to the client a toll free 1-800 number that can be called to report the practitioner to the State Bar of California in cases of fraud.

Justice for All

SB 674 (De León & Atkins) Immigrant Victims of Crime Equity Act: Ensures all immigrant victims of crime in California have the opportunity to apply for the federal Victim of Crime Visa (U-Visa) if they were victims of a qualifying crime and have been helpful in the investigation or prosecution of that crime.

AB 899 (Levine) Juvenile Confidentiality: Protects immigrant children by safeguarding their records from unauthorized disclosure to federal immigration officials that may result in a child’s deportation.

AB 1343 (Thurmond) Ensuring Due Process for Immigrant Defendants: Avoids unintended immigration consequences, like detention, deportation, and citizenship eligibility, by requiring defense counsel to provide accurate and affirmative advice and defense against such consequences. Both the prosecution and defense must contemplate immigration consequences in order to reach a just and fair resolution.

AB 900 (Levine) Extension of Probate Jurisdiction to Protect Vulnerable Immigrant Children Aligns California law with federal immigration law to allow for the maximum number of youth in California to receive humanitarian relief through the Special Immigrant Juvenile Status (SIJS) Visa.

AB 1352 (Eggman) Preventing Unintended Immigration Consequences for Rehabilitated Immigrants: Ends unintended immigration consequences for immigrants who successfully complete deferred entry of judgment programs, which are alternatives to court proceedings that allow offenders to participate in drug rehabilitation treatments.

Source: http://sd24.senate.ca.gov/sites/sd24.senate.ca.gov/files/Immigrants%20Shape%20California%20Legislative%20Package%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf)

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3 comments

Anon Apr 7, 2015 - 6:22 pm

The irony continues. The fundamentals of ILLEGAL (undocumented residents) is supported by what is supposed to be our state LAWMAKERS. Our confused Senate and Assembly members should be focused on helping the ILLEGAL residents obtain legal status instead of finding ways to circumvent the LAWS which they are charged with upholding. The California legislature continues to be an embarrassment.

The Senate President pro tem is correct, “the work is far from finished”. It’s time for the voters to boot these BUMS out of office and get serious about the real issues.

California has become a joke in the eyes of the other 49 states.

American Patriot Apr 8, 2015 - 6:55 am

Just sad the road this state is taking.

Resident Apr 8, 2015 - 7:26 pm

Anon says it right to the point.

xz Apr 8, 2015 - 11:45 pm

We’re closed, out of water! Ask the Sierra Club Jerry.

Hose "A" Apr 9, 2015 - 1:59 pm

No Bueno!

Comments are closed.