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California Update Volume 8, Issue 3 | June 18, 2004 |
1225 8th Street, Suite 590,
Sacramento, CA 95814 Ph: (916) 448-6762 Fax: (916) 448-6774 |
|
California Update Volume 8, Issue 3 | June 18, 2004 |
1225 8th Street, Suite 590,
Sacramento, CA 95814 Ph: (916) 448-6762 Fax: (916) 448-6774 |
CIWC Home > CIWC's Newsletter > June 18, 2004
MAY
BUDGET REVISION
Governor Retreats from Severe Cuts to Immigrant Programs
but Retains Significant Reductions to Health and Human
Services Programs
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on May 13 released a revised 2004–05 state budget proposal that preserves state-funded programs for immigrants that his administration previously targeted for severely reduced funding or elimination. Recognizing the growing political power of immigrants in California and the Legislature’s commitment to working families, the governor retreated from his January proposals to cap enrollment into the California Food Assistance Program, the Cash Assistance Program for Immigrants, as well as Medi-Cal nonemergency services, Healthy Families, and CalWORKs for immigrants. The governor also withdrew his proposals to eliminate several of the state’s programs that specifically benefit immigrants and to create a block grant for the counties to provide these services to immigrants.
Since January, immigrants and their advocates steadfastly opposed the cuts by writing hundreds of letters, appearing at legislative hearings, and sharing their stories in media reports throughout the state. The governor’s decision to revise his budget was hailed “as a victory for immigrants who made their voices heard,” according to California Immigrant Welfare Collaborative Director Reshma Shamasunder. CIWC would like to extend its thanks to all the individuals and organizations that played a role in this significant victory for immigrants and their families in California.
The Schwarzenegger administration continues to target various programs that serve low-income families with children, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Slated for cuts under the governor’s revised budget are community clinics throughout California as well as child care services under CalWORKs. In addition, the governor proposes to increase premiums for families whose children are enrolled in the Healthy Families program and eliminate cost-of-living increases for families enrolled in CalWORKs, as well as for seniors and persons with disabilities who rely on Supplemental Security Income and State Supplementary Payments.
Although the major programs benefiting immigrants have been spared, the governor continues to support the elimination of the California Veterans Cash Benefit Program (CVCBP). This program provides Filipino American veterans who fought for the U.S. during World War II the same level of benefits provided other veterans. Approximately 1,700 low-income elderly, blind, and disabled Filipino American vets receive benefits under the CVCBP.
Naturalization Services Program Gains Support from Key Leaders
BUDGET CONFERENCE COMMITTEE SUPPORTS FUNDS FOR NSP
The Naturalization Services Program, which was gutted during last year’s budget battles, has been revived by an allocation of $1.5 million in the budget conference committee now charged with reconciling differences in the Assembly and Senate budget proposals. The allocation would allow community programs to continue providing services to applicants for citizenship who often face financial hardship and who need assistance in completing and filing their forms. According to the U.S. Census, California is home to approximately 9 million foreign-born residents, and at any given time about 3 million Californians who are lawful permanent residents are eligible for U.S. citizenship.
Although the Naturalization Services Program will face further scrutiny during the budget negotiations, immigrants rights advocates are hopeful that this critical program will be restored.
New
Driver’s License Bill Set for Debate in Legislature
SB1160 INCLUDES SEVERAL NEW RESTRICTIONS
California lawmakers will consider a new proposal to allow all Californians, regardless of their immigration status, to obtain a driver’s licenses. Like last year’s bill (SB 60), SB 1160 would allow immigrants who do not have a Social Security number (SSN) to apply for a license and would no longer require that they prove they are in the U.S. lawfully. As currently written, the bill raises a number of concerns for immigrant rights advocates, including a lack of privacy protections for applicants, questions about how the information collected in the application process might be used by other state and federal agencies, as well as concerns that information sharing could expose these applicants to immigration enforcement.
The current version of SB 1160, authored by Sen. Gil Cedillo, would require immigrants without SSNs to supply the state with a full set of fingerprints and undergo state and federal criminal background checks. Currently, the bill contains no provisions that protect the privacy of applicants and prevent information gathered during the background check from being shared with other agencies, including immigration enforcement authorities.
Once the background check is completed, the DMV would deny licenses to applicants who have committed a “public offense” other than driving without a license. The penal code defines “public offense” as including felonies, misdemeanors, and infractions such as jaywalking, loitering, or parking violations. The broad range of offenses included in this definition could result in the exclusion of some immigrants for minor or unrelated citations. As written, the bill would require applicants to find a U.S. citizen over age 18 with a driver’s license who would be willing to attest to the applicant’s need for a license. Immigrants without SSNs would pay about $146 to apply for a license, or six times the amount paid by other applicants.
The bill currently allows for a very narrow range of documents that immigrants would be allowed to present as proof of their identity. The bill requires that immigrants without an SSN prove their identity with a “recently validated” passport or, for applicants from Mexico (and possibly a few other countries), consular identification. It is not clear which countries issue consular identification documents that meet the bill’s rigid requirements.
Applicants under SB 1160 also would be required to sign a two-part declaration that, if they are not lawfully residing in the U.S., they have applied or will apply for lawful status, and that they are aware that non–U.S. citizens are not allowed to register to vote, possess or attempt to purchase a firearm, or serve on a jury. The declaration would also state that the driver’s license does not “establish eligibility for employment, voter registration or public benefits.”
The text of SB 1160 can be read at www.leginfo.ca.gov. The bill will likely be amended as it moves through the legislative process, and its terms have not yet received the governor’s approval. CIWC will continue to monitor the bill’s progress and, along with other advocates, will raise concerns about restrictive or discriminatory eligibility requirements and provisions that could be harmful to immigrants who apply for licenses under the bill.