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2006 SESSION

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065119396
HOUSE BILL NO. 186 Offered January 11, 2006 Prefiled January 2, 2006 A BILL to amend the Code of Virginia by adding in Chapter 25 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 8, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-2525 and 2.2-2526, relating to the creation of the Commission on Immigration. ---------- Patron-- Marshall, R.G. ---------- Referred to Committee on General Laws ----------

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That the Code of Virginia is amended by adding in Chapter 25 of Title 2.2 an article numbered 8, consisting of sections numbered 2.2-2525 and 2.2-2526, as follows:

Article 8. Virginia Commission On Immigration.

§ 2.2-2525. Virginia Commission on Immigration; purpose; membership, terms, compensation; staff.

A. The Virginia Commission on Immigration (Commission) is established as an advisory commission within the meaning of § 2.2-2100, in the executive branch of state government. The purpose of the Commission is to study, report, and make recommendations for dealing with the impact of immigration and related policies on the Commonwealth. The Commission may make recommendations and coordinate the proposals of all commissions and agencies as to legislation and policies affecting immigration of persons into the Commonwealth.

B. The Commission shall consist of 20 members as follows: six members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House in accordance with the rules of proportional representation in the Rules of the House; three members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules ; and 11 members to be appointed by the Governor as follows: (i) a naturalized citizen who is a resident of the Commonwealth, (ii) a resident of the Commonwealth who holds a permanent resident visa issued by the U.S. Department of State, and (iii) retirees of either the (a) Immigration and Naturalization Service, (b) Drug Enforcement Agency, (c) Federal Bureau of Investigation, (d) Virginia State Police, (e) Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles, (f) Department of Social Services, (g) Department of Education, (h) health care providers, or (i) a representative of business interests.

C. Members of the Commission shall serve for five-year terms. Whenever any legislative member fails to retain his membership in the house from which he was appointed, his membership shall be vacated, and the vacancy shall be filled in the original manner. Subsequent appointments shall be made for similar terms, and vacancies shall be filled for the unexpired terms by the persons authorized to make the original appointments.

D. The members of the Commission shall elect a chairman and vice-chairman from among its members.  A majority of the members shall constitute a quorum.

E. Legislative members of the Commission shall receive compensation as provided in § 30-19.12, and all members shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their duties as provided in § 2.2-2825. All reimbursable expenses shall be paid from existing appropriations to the Commission.

F. The Commission may appoint, employ, and remove an executive director and one administrative assistant and determine their duties and fix their salaries or compensation within the amounts appropriated therefor. The Commission may also obtain such assistance as it may deem necessary from other legislative and executive agencies and may employ experts who have special knowledge of the issues before it.

§ 2.2-2526. Powers and duties of the Commission.

A. The Commission shall have the power and duty to gather and analyze information and data to accomplish its purpose as set forth in § 2.2-2525.

B. The Chairman of the Commission shall have the authority to invite other interested parties to sit with the Commission and to participate in its deliberations without compensation by the Commission.

C. The Commission shall examine the operations, management, jurisdiction, powers and interrelationships of any department, board, bureau, commission, authority, or other agency with any direct responsibility for setting policy and managing services for immigrants entering the Commonwealth.

D. The Commission may maintain offices and may hold meetings and functions at any place within the Commonwealth as it may deem necessary.

E. The Commission shall make an annual report to the Governor and the General Assembly that shall include its recommendations. The Commission shall make such further interim reports to the Governor and the General Assembly as it shall deem advisable or as shall be required by the Governor or General Assembly.