Undocumented Californians will be able to obtain a State ID

Supporting economic inclusion and opportunity, street vendors will have easier access to health permits

SACRAMENTO – As other states cruelly target migrants and vilify immigration, Governor Gavin Newsom announced the signing of legislation that will support immigrants, advance equity, and expand opportunity.

What Does This Mean?

• Undocumented Californians will be able to obtain a State ID, a critical step for inclusion and meaningful participation in our communities and economy.

• Street vendors can more easily get local health permits, supporting better economic inclusion and opportunity.

• Immigrant students will have improved access to in-state tuition at public colleges and universities, and to ESL courses at community colleges. Additionally, immigrant student borrowers will have more options to finance their college educations.

• Provides low-income Californians, regardless of their immigration status, eligibility for legal assistance in civil matters affecting basic human needs.

• Access to community health workers and promotores who can facilitate and provide culturally and linguistically responsive care.

• Cal/OSHA postings will be provided in various languages to protect workers and support safe workplaces.

• An alternate plea scheme will be created for defendants charged with drug offenses, which mitigates particular harm for noncitizen Californians.

“California is expanding opportunity for everyone, regardless of immigration status,” said Governor Newsom. “We’re a state of refuge – a majority-minority state, where 27 percent of us are immigrants. That’s why I’m proud to announce the signing of today’s bills to further support our immigrant community, which makes our state stronger every single day.”

A full list of the bills in the package can be found here:

• AB 1232 by Assemblymember Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) – Community colleges: nonresident tuition fees: English as a second language courses.

• AB 1766 by Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-Scotts Valley) – Department of Motor Vehicles: driver’s licenses and identification cards.

• AB 1777 by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) – Migrant education: extended school year program: average daily attendance.

• AB 2004 by Assemblymember Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens) – California DREAM Loan Program.

• AB 2068 by Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco) – Occupational safety and health: postings: spoken languages.

• AB 2193 by Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino) – Civil representation: immigration status.

• AB 2195 by Assemblymember Reginald Byron Jones-Sawyer, Sr. (D-Los Angeles) – Crimes: nuisance.

• AB 2697 by Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry (D-Winters) – Medi-Cal: community health worker services.

• SB 972 by Senator Lena Gonzalez (D-Long Beach) – California Retail Food Code.

• SB 1141 by Senator Monique Limόn (D-Santa Barbara) – Public postsecondary education: exemption from payment of nonresident tuition.

Last month, Governor Newsom signed SB 836 by Senator Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), prohibiting the disclosure of a person’s immigration status in open court in a criminal case by any party unless approved by the judge.

For full text of the bills, visit: http://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov.

California ID’s For All

Wednesday, February 2, 2022
SACRAMENTO, CA – Assemblymember Mark Stone (D-Monterey Bay), joined by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-South Los Angeles), Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Salinas) and Assemblymember Mike Gipson (D-Carson), have jointly introduced AB 1766 that will expand California Identification Card (CA ID) eligibility to all Californians, regardless of their immigration status. If enacted, California will be the first state in the nation to allow people who are undocumented to obtain a non-license, standard identification card.

Identification cards are passports to economic and societal participation. IDs allow one to open a bank account, obtain benefits, access healthcare, secure housing and employment, and much more. Currently, people who are undocumented are able to obtain a restricted driver’s license through AB 60 (Alejo, 2013) but are ineligible for a California ID.

If a person who is undocumented does not have meaningful access to a car or have the ability to take a driving test, they are rendered ineligible for a government-issued ID. They can rely on gym memberships or college/university IDs if they have access to those institutions. Otherwise, they can use a passport or consulate ID to corroborate their identities, however, this is an often risky “outing” process for those who are not legally present in the United States.

“Lack of identification is one of the largest barriers to success into the community because IDs are essential to securing employment, housing, and social services,” said Assemblymember Stone. “AB 1766 is an essential gateway to social inclusion and should be a basic necessity that every resident has access to.”

“This bill brings equity to those who have been unable to access basic life essentials because they have no legally recognized identification,” said Assemblymember Jones-Sawyer. “What many of us take for granted – having an ID – will have life-changing ramifications for many in the immigrant and disabled communities.”

“Everyone deserves access to identification,” said Assemblymember Robert Rivas (D-Salinas). “This legislation moves us one step closer to true equity for our undocumented neighbors. As Vice-Chair of the Latino Legislative Caucus, I am proud to partner with Assemblymember Stone on this important legislation and applaud my colleague for his leadership on this issue.”

Individuals with mobility issues, disabilities such as epilepsy, and those who are older and develop degenerative eye, muscular, or cognitive diseases are not able to obtain driver’s licenses and thus, do not have access to a state government-issued ID. Additionally, undocumented people leaving incarceration are also unable to obtain an original AB 60 driver’s license because they cannot access a driving test in prison. Under this bill, California ID eligibility will be expanded to approximately 1.6 million undocumented people.

AB 1766 is waiting to be referred.