We are almost at the end of the state legislative session for 2020. A new dynamic in Richmond fueled by your organizing efforts has resulted in the following victories for Asian Americans and other communities of color, working class people, immigrants, and limited-English proficient communities in Virginia:
In-State Tuition We are currently awaiting the Governor to sign this bill into law! This legislation allows students, regardless of immigration status, to be eligible to apply to pay in-state tuition rates. The eligibility criteria are: attendance of two years of school in Virginia (public, private, or home school) and graduation or got their GED; document proof of payment of state taxes (of parents if student is dependent) for two years before applying for college; and registration in a public college or university. This bill goes into effect on July 1, 2020.
Driver’s Privilege Cards What finally came out of the session is a driver's privilege card. It will be categorized as a type of driver's license of which undocumented folks who have filed one year of state taxes, show proof of identity, and pay a fee of $50, can apply. There will be no exam waivers. The front of the card will look the same as the standard driver's license. As of the writing of this newsletter, NAKASEC VA is working to strengthen privacy provisions and to ensure that the look of the card on the back will not open people up to discrimination. Our community of undocumented parents and young folks (who were not able to apply for DACA) consider this result to be a victory. This bill goes into effect on January 1, 2021.
Minimum Wage to $15 The final bill has wage increases as follows: Jan 1, 2021: $9.50; Jan 2, 2022: $11; Jan 1, 2023: $12; Jan 1, 2025: $13.50; Jan 1 2026: $15. Between Jan 1, 2022 and Dec 1, 2023, a study will be conducted to examine regionalism options (treating minimum wage workers differently based on geography) and the General Assembly must act again in 2024 to implement the last wage increases and consider regionalism options. Regionalism is currently prohibited under current law, which establishes one minimum wage across the state. If enacted, VA would have one of the most complicated and inequitable minimum wage laws in the country. The final bill did remove many negative exemptions, so now pieceworkers, workers with disabilities, and domestic workers will now also be covered by the minimum wage law (unfortunately tipped workers and farmworkers remain exempt). Increasing Support for English Language Learners The final proposed budget increases instructional positions for English language learner students from 17 to 18.5 positions for every 1,000 students in FY21 and 20 for every 1,000 students in FY22. This is a good first step since the last time funding was increased, in 2005.
NAKASEC VA is pivoting to ongoing administrative advocacy and community education. If you want to help us ensure that Asian Americans and other newly eligible folks will benefit from these legislative wins, contact Clara Kim (ckim@nakasec.org).
Want another way to help us build community power? Become a member today! Membership starts from $50/year or $5/month. (Don't forget to note “NAKASEC VA” in the contribution note!) For the entirety of April, 100% membership dues will go towards our COVID-19 Mutual Aid Fund. Learn more about this fund using the link or by checking out the last section of our newsletter! |