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Developed and maintained by the Division of Legislative Automated Systems.
1996 SESSION
960229252WHEREAS, Virginia, like so many other states, has experienced an influx of immigrants in recent years which has had a great impact on the schools and social programs operating in the Commonwealth; and
WHEREAS, the Commonwealth ranks tenth in the nation for numbers of foreign-born settling within our boundaries, placing it only behind such states as New York, California, and Texas; and
WHEREAS, the federal government has continued to pull back from its responsibilities to provide a "safety net" for these immigrants who have come to our shores under federal guidelines, thereby exposing the states to the liability of providing necessary services for those in need; and
WHEREAS, even with heightened awareness and additional border patrols, the incidence of aliens entering the country illegally continues to worsen; and
WHEREAS, the budgetary constraints being felt by all states in these tough economic times only increases the need of the states to spend their dollars wisely through intensive planning; and
WHEREAS, most schools do not collect such information since the courts have held that children are entitled to an education regardless of status; and
WHEREAS, social services agencies, for some benefit programs, currently must verify the citizenship status of applicants, but this requirement does not cover all client services; and
WHEREAS, it is difficult to plan for state services, especially social programs and education, without knowing the needs of the total populace; and
WHEREAS, the knowledge of special needs of the immigrant population would enable the state to furnish the federal government with accurate statistics and provide a basis for requesting reimbursement for some of the services provided, many for which the federal government has accepted responsibility in the past; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the Departments
of Social Services [ and , ] Education [ , Medical Assistance
Services and Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services be
requested to ] develop a protocol which will enable them, to the extent of
current law, to inquire as to the citizenship or immigration status of clients
and students when they apply for services. The Departments shall also develop
a method of collecting this information in a centralized location so as to be
available to state officials to use when necessary for purposes of requesting
reimbursement from the federal government and for planning for programs and
budgets.
[ The Departments shall complete their work in time to submit their findings and recommendations to the Governor and the 1997 Session of the General Assembly as provided in the procedures of the Division of Legislative Automated Systems for the processing of legislative documents. ]