CIPC Spring Legislative Update

Last Friday was the deadline for fiscal bills to be heard in their first policy committees. In the coming weeks, various bills impacting California's immigrants and their families will be making their way to Appropriations Committees and the Senate and Assembly floors.  The California Immigrant Policy Center (CIPC) and our allies are actively engaged in working with policymakers to advance policies that benefit immigrant families across the state of California. For the well-being of all Californians, lawmakers must prioritize immigrant integration - by guaranteeing positive, effective immigration policies at the state and federal level.  This year, CIPC is sponsoring and tracking a robust package of bills in the area of health care, language access, civil rights, workers' rights, education, and policy affecting immigration broadly. 

For more information on the bills listed below, please visit www.leginfo.ca.gov/billinfo.html or call Ronald Coleman at 916-448-6762.

CIPC SPONSORED BILLS
AB 1081 (AMMIANO) - The TRUST ACT – CO-SPONSOR WITH THE ASIAN LAW CAUCUS AND THE NATIONAL DAY LABOR ORGANIZING NETWORK: This bill will be the first state-level proposal in the nation to set reasonable limits for local responses to the burdensome immigration hold requests that detain community members for deportation. This bill will be heard in Senate Public Safety Committee in the coming weeks. To learn more, join the webinar on Thursday, May 3rd at 10am  
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AB 1899 (MITCHELL) – ACCESS TO EDUCTION FOR CRIME SURVIVORS – CO-SPONSOR WITH NILC AND MALDEF: This bill would provide continued access to in-state tuition rates, fee waivers, scholarships and state financial aid to otherwise eligible crime survivors who have been granted a “T” or “U” non-immigrant status. This bill is currently on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee and a disposition will be made on May 23rd or 24th. 

SB 1313 (LIEU) – DECEPTIVE MARKETING – CO-SPONSOR WITH CPEHN AND CONSUMERS UNION: This bill would strengthen consumer protections for new health care enrollees and protect them against potential fraudulent or deceptive marketing practices. The bill will be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee in the coming weeks. To learn more, join the webinar on Thursday, June 14th at 10am
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HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
AB 1453 (MONNING) and SB 951 (HERNANDEZ) – ESSENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS – SUPPORT: These bills protect consumers from underinsurance and junk insurance by requiring that health plans and health insurers cover a set of minimum essential health benefits as determined by federal regulations under the Affordable Care Act.  AB 1453 will be heard in the Assembly Appropriations Committee on May 2nd and SB 951 passed the Senate Appropriations Committee on April 30th and is headed to the Senate Floor.

AB 1580 (BONILLA) – HEALTH CARE ELIGIBILITY AND ENROLLMENT – SUPPORT: This bill is a technical Fix to AB 1296 (Bonilla) which was signed into law last year to streamline eligibility and enrollment processes.  The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires states to have a seamless, “no wrong door” system for determining eligibility for and enrolling people into Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and the Exchange. AB 1296 implements these components by requiring a single application for Medi-Cal, the Exchange, and Healthy Families – online, by phone, in person and by mail. This bill has cleared the Assembly Floor, and is now headed to the Senate.

SB 970 (DE LEON) – HEALTH CARE REFORM ELIGIBILITY, ENROLLMENT, and RETENTION PLANNING ACT – SUPPORT: This bill would integrate the process for applying for public programs such as CalFresh and CalWORKs with the new online health coverage application process to ensure that families can be screened for multiple benefits of which they may be eligible.  This bill is currently on suspense in the Senate Appropriations Committee.

AB 1761 (PEREZ) – CALIFORNIA HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE – SUPPORT: This bill prohibits individuals and entities, including those regulated by the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) and The Department of Insurance (CDI), from holding themselves out as representing, constituting, or otherwise providing services on behalf of the California Health Benefits Exchange (Exchange) unless the individual or entity has a valid agreement with the Exchange to engage in those activities. This bill has cleared the Assembly Floor and is currently in the Senate Rules Committee.

AB 1691 (LOWENTHAL) – CalWORKs WELFARE TO WORK ACTIVITIES – SUPPORT: This bill would include English as a second language (ESL) education as a core welfare-to-work activity in the California Work Opportunity and Responsibility to Kids (CalWORKs) program.  This bill has cleared the Assembly Floor and is currently in the Senate Rules Committee. 

SB 1064 (DE LEON) – CHILD CUSTODY – SUPPORT: This bill would eliminate many of the barriers in the child welfare system for immigrant families by creating uniformity across state and county policies. This bill has been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. To learn more, join the webinar on Monday, May 14th at 10am  
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AB 2015 (MITCHELL) – CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND TELEPHONE CALLS FOR ARRESTED CUSTODIAL PARENT – SUPPORT:  Requires an arresting or booking officer to inquire if an arrested person is a custodial parent with responsibility for a minor child, and requires that a sign be posted in a conspicuous place informing an arrested custodial parent of his or her right to two additional phone calls for the purpose of arranging for the care of the child or children in the parent's absence. This bill is currently on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations Committee and a disposition will be made on May 23rd or 24th.

LANGUAGE ACCESS AND EDUCATION
SB 1233 (PADILLA) – TRANSLATION OF INITIATIVES AND REFERENDA TITLES AND SUMMARIES - SUPPORT: This bill would provide for translations of initiative and referenda circulating titles and summaries. This bill has been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee. 

AB 1719 (FUENTES) – SUPPLEMENTAL INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIAL & ENGLISH LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT – SUPPORT: Establishes a process for the review and approval of supplemental instructional materials that are aligned to the common core state standards and the revised English language development (ELD) standards for English learner pupils. This bill is currently on suspense in the Assembly Appropriations hearing, and a disposition will be made on May 23rd or 24th.

AB 2193  (LARA) – LONG TERM ENGLISH LEARNERS - SUPPORT: This bill defines "long-term English learners (LTELs)" and "English learners (ELs) at risk of becoming long-term English learners;" requires local educational agencies (LEAs) to report the number of pupils identified as such, and requires specified information be provided to parents of pupils who are, or are at risk of becoming LTELs.  This bill is currently on suspense in the Assembly Appropriation Committee and a disposition will be made on May 23rd or 24th.
 
SB 1423 (HERNANDEZ) – PUBLIC SCHOOL ACCOUNTABILITY AND ENGLISH LEARNERS – SUPPORT:  This bill expands the responsibilities of regional consortia (established for purposes of complying with federal No Child Left Behind Act requirements that states assist schools in Program Improvement) to additionally require that they assist these schools in their efforts to provide the same course options to English learners enrolled in the school as are available to other pupils at the same school. Failed to pass policy committee deadline. 

AB 1521 (BROWNLEY) – STANDARDIZED TESTING AND REPORTING - SUPPORT:  This bill makes the following changes to the K-12 assessment system (i.e., the Standardized Testing and Reporting Program): 1) Eliminates end-of-course assessments in math 1-3 and integrated/coordinated assessments in science 1-4.  2) Authorizes the State Department of Education (SDE) to make a standards-aligned primary language assessment available to school districts to assess pupils, including English language learners (ELLs) who are enrolled in a dual language immersion (DLI) program and requires a district that chooses this option to administer the assessment at its own expense. This bill is now on the Assembly Floor.

SB 1109 (PADILLA) – ENGLISH LEARNERS AND A MASTER PLAN – SUPPORT: This bill requires the Superintendent of Public Instruction (SPI) to develop an English Learner Master Plan, to include specified elements, before January 1, 2014, and requires the SPI to report on the status of, and recommendations for, the plan to the Legislature and the State Board of Education. This bill has been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

SB 993 (DE LEON) – ADDING THE BRACERO PROGRAM TO CURRICULUM – SUPPORT: This bill authorizes social science instruction to include instruction on the Bracero program. This bill has cleared the Senate and is currently at the Assembly Committee on Education.

CIVIL RIGHTS AND EQUALITY
AB 1436 (FEUER) – VOTER REGISTRATION – SUPPORT:  This bill would allow for conditional voter registration between Election Day and 15 days prior. It will help increase voter turnout among people that become increasingly aware of election issues and candidates closer to election dates, and has the potential to increase voter registration by 5-10%. This bill is currently on suspense in the Assembly Appropriation Committee and a disposition will be made on May 23rd or 24th.

AB 1814 (ENG) – VOTING RIGHTS AND LANGUAGE ASSISTANCE – SUPPORT:  This bill would improve compliance with our state and federal voting rights laws by strengthening the Secretary of State’s ability to monitor the compliance of election officials in order to mitigate barriers and facilitate the ability of limited English-proficient and first time voters to participate in California’s democratic process. This bill is currently on suspense in the Assembly Appropriation Committee and a disposition will be made on May 23rd or 24th.

AB 1993 (MA) – INEQUITABLE IMPOUNDS – SUPPORT: This bill would allow a city or county to impound a car for less than 30 days for certain traffic infractions where the offense involves a person who has never been issued a driver’s license. This bill is currently in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

SB 956 (LIEU) BUY-HERE-PAY-HERE, AUTOMOBILE SELLERS & LENDERS – SUPPORT:  This bill aims to regulate Buy Here, Pay Here dealers by requiring them to obtain a California Finance Lenders license from the Department of Corporations, caps the interest rates charged to consumers, and expands repossession laws to include additional consumer protections. This bill has been referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee.

WORKERS’ RIGHTS
AB 889 (AMMIANO) – DOMESTIC WORKERS – SUPPORT: This bill would provide domestic workers with industry-specific protections to use kitchen facilities and cook their own food, and creates standards for sleep, sick days, living wage increases, and paid vacations. Status: held in Senate Appropriations Suspense File; bill will continue to move in the coming months as parties involved resolve key issues. To learn more, join the webinar on Monday, May 15th at 2pm  
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AB 1964 (YAMADA) – DISCRIMINATION IN EMPLOYMENT AND RELIGIOUS ACCOMMODATIONS – SUPPORT:  This bill would clarify that undue hardship, as defined in the Definitions section of the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), applies to the Religious Discrimination section. The bill would also specify that religious clothing and hairstyles qualify as a religious belief or observance and that segregating an employee from customers or the public is not a reasonable accommodation of an employee’s religious beliefs. This bill has been referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. To learn more, join the webinar on Monday, May 15th at 2pm  
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AB 2517 (ENG) – THE WAGE THEFT RECOVERY ACT – SUPPORT: This bill Authorizes "wage liens" in the car wash industry against the real and personal property of an employer for unpaid wages, and makes changes to existing mechanics lien law. This bill has been referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee. To learn more, join the webinar on Monday, May 15th at 2pm  
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AB 1544 (VM PEREZ) – RESIDENTIAL GUEST WORKER PROGRAM – OPPOSE:  This bill requires the Employment Development Department (EDD), upon certification that there are not enough legal residents of California to fill all open agricultural and service industry jobs in California, to issue permits authorizing an undocumented person who meets specified criteria to reside and work as an employee in California as long as they are employed in the agricultural or service industry. This bill has been referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

ANTI-IMMIGRANT LEGISLATION
AB 2479 (DONNELLY) – PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING – OPPOSE:  This bill requires a person to provide proof of citizenship in order to register to vote. Failed passage in Policy Committee. 

AB 1716 (GARRICK) – PHOTO IDENTIFICATION REQUIREMENT FOR VOTING – OPPOSE: This bill would require individuals voting in person to show valid or recently-expired government-issued photo ID at the polls or vote a provisional ballot in the alternative, and individuals voting by mail to submit an ID number with their ballots. California would be required to provide I.D. cards free of charge, and certain voters would be exempt, including those residing at long-term care facilities and those with religious objections to being photographed. Failed passage in Policy Committee.

AB 1571 (DONNELLY) – HUMAN TRAFFICKING – OPPOSE: This bill defines "human smuggling" as the importation of people into the country via the deliberate evasion of immigration law, including bringing undocumented aliens into the country, as well as the unlawful transportation and harboring of undocumented aliens already in the country. Failed passage in Policy Committee.

AB 2306 (DONNELLY) – CALIFORNIA EMERGENCY SERVICES ACT AND BORDER SECURITY - OPPOSE: This bill would authorize the Governor to commit state resources and funds under statutory emergency powers to address the federal function of immigration law enforcement, potentially creating an army of immigration enforcement officers throughout the state who operate under emergency police powers rather than the normal procedures of law enforcement.  Failed passage in Policy Committee.

SB 1074 (DUTTON) – CalFresh ELIGIBILITY FINGERPRINT REQUIREMENT – OPPOSE: This bill would extend the fingerprint imaging requirement to CalFresh.  Failed passage in Policy Committee.