Thread: VA: BILLS ON ILLEGALS STUDIED

BILLS ON ILLEGALS STUDIED


Virginia Commission on Immigration takes up bills on hospital payment, creating state assistance office
By CHELYEN DAVIS


Date published: 4/2/2008


RICHMOND

--While the General Assembly passed a handful of immigration-related bills in the recently-ended session, the issue is still drawing attention.

The Virginia Commission on Immigration met yesterday to start working on new legislation for next session. In the next few months, the panel will study two bills referred to it in the 2008 session.

One, from Sen. Ken Cuccinelli, R-Fairfax, would make it illegal to give a false name, address or Social Security number to avoid paying for medical services.

It also says hospitals should post notices of intent to prosecute anyone convicted of defrauding health care providers; and that hospitals can fingerprint anyone who receives medical services and can't show an ability to pay for those services.

Sen. Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax, suggested Cuccinelli's bill may not survive the commission's study. He said he questioned Cuccinelli about the bill during the regular session and was told no hospitals in the area had requested it. He also said some of the things in the bill are already illegal.

Sen. John Watkins, R-Midlothian, the commission's chairman, said he hopes representatives from the hospital association will look into the issue and discuss it at future meetings.

The other 2008 bill referred to the commission is from Del. Scott Lingamfelter, R-Prince William. It would create an Office of Immigrant Assistance within the Department of Social Services.

The office would provide assistance with the citizenship application process, with finding employment and housing and obtaining government services if immigrants are eligible.

Some members of the commission questioned whether the Department of Social Services already has such a program. DSS Commissioner Anthony Conyers Jr. said his department has an Office of Newcomer Services, but it serves refugees.

The immigration commission will also spend this year studying three immigration issues referred to it from the Crime Commission:

Whether to issue identity verification cards to people not legally in the country.

Whether to require employers to use the federal E-verify system to make sure they don't hire illegal immigrants.

What documentation of legal presence should be required for people applying for state-run public programs.

http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008 ... 008/368032

Sen. Dick Saslaw, D-Fairfax, suggested Cuccinelli's bill may not survive the commission's study. He said he questioned Cuccinelli about the bill during the regular session and was told no hospitals in the area had requested it. He also said some of the things in the bill are already illegal


Yes bu they are not enforced !