Legislation of Specific Application to Immigrant Communities by Claire Guthrie Gastañaga, CG2 Consulting

The Center thanks Virginia's leading authority on immigrant-focused legislation, Clair Guthrie Gastañaga for her work on these bills.

Employment and Contracts

HB 185 (Marshall R, Manassas)
Public Procurement Act; prohibited contracts; required contract provisions. This bill, which is similar to bills killed last year, would prohibit state and local agencies from entering into any contract for services unless the contract provides that only citizens of the United States, legal resident aliens, and individuals with a valid visa will perform the services under the contract or any subcontract of that contract. The bill further requires all public bodies to include in every contract for goods or services the following provisions: During the performance of this contract, the contractor agrees to (i) post in conspicuous places, available to employees and applicants for employment, a statement notifying such persons that only citizens of the United States, legal resident aliens, and individuals with a valid visa will be hired to perform the services under the contract or any subcontract of such contract; (ii) state in all solicitations or advertisements for employees placed by or on behalf of the contractor that the contractor will hire only citizens of the United States, legal resident aliens, and individuals with a valid visa to perform the services under the contract or any subcontract of such contract; and (iii) include the provisions of the foregoing clauses in every subcontract or purchase order, so that the provisions will be binding upon each subcontractor or vendor.

HB 1048 (Reid, R Henrico)
Document verification for employment of illegal immigrants; penalty. This bill would require all employers to obtain proof that a prospective employee is legally eligible for employment in the United States. Employers are required to maintain proof of eligibility for employment on each of their employees. Violations involving the employment of persons not legally eligible for employment in the United States, in addition to being Class 1 misdemeanors, are punishable by a fine of $10,000. The Department of Labor and Industry is required to provide access to a computer database for verification of legal status. An employer that hires persons not legally eligible for employment in the United States will be ineligible to participate in foreign labor certification programs for a period of three years following conviction.

HB 1051 (Reid, R Henrico)
Employment service centers; penalty. This is the anti-day labor center bill. It would prohibit public funding of employment services unless the provider of the services verifies that the persons receiving services are legally eligible for employment in the United States. The service providers are required to maintain a database that identifies each applicant for employment services and contains confirmation of the applicant's legal eligibility for employment in the United States. The measure is subject to enforcement by the Commissioner of Labor and Industry.

Center Priorities (.pdf)

Bulletin Inserts
Child Support (.pdf)
Environment (.pdf)
Housing Trust (.pdf)
Indigent Defense (.pdf)
Payday Lending (.pdf)
Minimum Wage (.pdf)

Advocacy Resources
Advocacy Guide (.doc)
Advocacy Portal (link)
Lending Info. (.ppt)
Richmond Map (.pdf)

For Small Groups
Eco-Stewardship (link)
Prayers for Creation (link)
Poverty Diet (link)

Policy Briefs
EITC (.doc)
TANF Child Support (.doc)
Payday Loans (.doc)
Healing Creation (.doc)
Child Ombudsman (.doc)
Affordable Housing (.doc)
Indigent Defense (.doc)
Minimum Wage (.doc)
Wage & EITC (.doc)
VA Tribes (.link)

Actions
Lending Petition (link)
Title Petition (link)
Wage Petition (link)

Reports
Budget Analysis (.pdf)
Food Stamps (.doc)
Lottery Study (link)

FAQ's (link)

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