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2007 SESSION

076538496
HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 776
Offered January 19, 2007
Establishing a joint subcommittee to study the impact of undocumented immigrants residing in Virginia on the state's economy and government services and resources. Report.
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Patrons-- Saxman, Cole, Cox, Crockett-Stark, Frederick, Gear, Griffith, Hamilton, Hugo, Hurt, Iaquinto, Janis, Jones, S.C., Kilgore, Landes, Lingamfelter, Lohr, Marshall, D.W., Marshall, R.G., McQuigg, Miller, J.H., Morgan, Nixon, Nutter, O'Bannon, Rapp, Reid, Scott, E.T., Sherwood, Suit, Tata, Wardrup, Welch, Wittman and Wright
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Unanimous consent to introduce
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Referred to Committee on Rules
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WHEREAS, a study conducted by the Urban Institute found that of the approximately 34.5 million foreign-born persons living in the United States, more than 9 million (20 percent) are undocumented immigrants; and

WHEREAS, that same study estimated that the number of undocumented who reside in Virginia may be between 175,000 and 200,000; and

WHEREAS, the potential exists for such a substantial number of persons to have an extensively adverse impact on the state's economy and the resources and services provided by the state and local government agencies; and

WHEREAS, there is a need to develop clear data on the number of undocumented immigrants residing in Virginia and the impact on the state's economy and government resources; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That a joint subcommittee be established to study the impact of undocumented immigrants who are unlawfully in the United States and residing in Virginia on the state's economy and government services and resources. The joint subcommittee shall have a total membership of eight members, who shall be appointed as follows: five members of the House of Delegates to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Delegates in accordance with the principles of proportional representation contained in the Rules of the House of Delegates and three members of the Senate to be appointed by the Senate Committee on Rules. The joint subcommittee shall elect a chairman and vice chairman from among its membership.

In conducting its study, the joint subcommittee shall develop an estimate of the number of undocumented immigrants residing in Virginia and review (i) the effect that undocumented immigrants have on state and local resources and services, (ii) the costs and benefits to the state's economy, and (iii) review other trends and issues associated with the population of undocumented immigrants residing in Virginia.

Administrative staff support shall be provided by the Office of the Clerk of the House of Delegates. Legal, research, policy analysis, and other services as requested by the joint subcommittee shall be provided by the Division of Legislative Services. Technical assistance shall be provided by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission. All agencies of the Commonwealth shall provide assistance to the joint subcommittee for this study, upon request.

The joint subcommittee shall be limited to four meetings for the 2007 interim and four meetings for the 2008 interim, and the direct costs of this study shall not exceed $ 8,000 for each year without approval as set out in this resolution. Approval for unbudgeted nonmember-related expenses shall require the written authorization of the chairman of the joint subcommittee and the respective Clerk.  If a companion joint resolution of the other chamber is agreed to, written authorization of both Clerks shall be required.

No recommendation of the joint subcommittee shall be adopted if a majority of the House members or a majority of the Senate members appointed to the joint subcommittee (i) vote against the recommendation and (ii) vote for the recommendation to fail notwithstanding the majority vote of the joint subcommittee.

The joint subcommittee shall complete its meetings for the first year by November 30, 2007, and for the second year by November 30, 2008, and the chairman shall submit to the Division of Legislative Automated Systems an executive summary of its findings and recommendations no later than the first day of the next Regular Session of the General Assembly for each year. Each executive summary shall state whether the joint subcommittee intends to submit to the General Assembly and the Governor a report of its findings and recommendations for publication as a House or Senate document. The executive summaries and reports shall be submitted as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents and reports and shall be posted on the General Assembly's website.