BILL NUMBER: AB 20	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Alejo

                        DECEMBER 1, 2014

   An act relating to immigration.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 20, as introduced, Alejo. Undocumented immigrants.
   Existing law establishes the Franchise Tax Board and prescribes
its various powers and duties regarding, among other things, the
administration of state personal income taxes and requires that an
income tax return be filed by every individual who has income in
excess of specified amounts. Existing law allows an income tax return
to be filed with the Franchise Tax Board using an individual
taxpayer identification number.
   This bill would make findings and declarations regarding
immigration and immigrants within the United States and California,
including encouraging those immigrants who are not eligible to
receive a social security number to file a California state income
tax return using an individual taxpayer identification number and
that California would benefit by providing undocumented persons who
are agricultural or service industry employees with a permit to work
and live in the state.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  The Legislature finds and declares all of the
following:
   (a) The United States of America is a nation of values, founded on
the principles that all men and women are created equal, and the
promise of freedom for all.
   (b) We are a nation of immigrants, who believe in the promise of
freedom and opportunity.
   (c) The current immigration system is broken, antiquated, and not
meeting the challenges of the 21st century. It separates families,
including same-sex couple families, creates long backlogs for
families seeking reunification, and neglects the hard work and
financial contributions immigrants make to our country.
   (d) Since 2008, more than 1.6 million immigrants have been
deported, and one in every 10 American children faces the threat of
the deportation of a parent.
   (e) Approximately 11 million undocumented immigrants are in the
United States, and California has the largest population of
immigrants, both legal and undocumented.
   (f) Immigrants and their children constitute nearly one-half of
California's population and live and work in all 58 counties, most
notably in the San Diego, Central Valley, Los Angeles, Ventura, and
greater San Francisco areas.
   (g) Approximately 77 percent of undocumented immigrants who reside
in California live with family members who are legal United States
residents and citizens.
   (h) One in 10 workers in California is an undocumented immigrant,
and immigrants are a vibrant, productive, and vital part of the state'
s growing economy.
   (i) Immigrants are essential in keeping the American economy
strong; from technology programmers in the Silicon Valley to
restaurant owners and workers, immigrants are filling an intrinsic
need in the labor force.
   (j) Agricultural workers have been performing very important and
difficult work to maintain America's food supply, and have a role of
ensuring that Americans have safe and secure agricultural products to
sell and consume.
   (k) Students should not be punished for their immigration status.
Instead, they should be given recognition for their sacrifice, hard
work, and determination.
   (l) The United States can do a better job of attracting and
keeping the world's best and brightest. A comprehensive immigration
reform should also grant immigrants who have received a Ph.D. or
master's degree in science, technology, engineering, or mathematics
from an American university the opportunity to invest in and
contribute to this great nation. For the future of our economy, it
makes no sense to educate the world's future innovators and
entrepreneurs only to ultimately force them to leave our country at
the moment they are most able to contribute to our economy.
   (m) Modernizing our antiquated and dysfunctional immigration
system will uphold our nation's basic values of fairness and
equality, as well as access to health care.
   (n) A comprehensive, as well as compassionate, approach to solve
our broken immigration system should be one that works for all
communities and families in America.
   (o) The full recovery of the California economy depends upon the
continued residence and employment of all current and future members
of the state workforce, whether currently employed or in the process
of education or training for future employment.
   (p) The removal of residents and employees, who are free of any
serious criminal history or criminal misconduct, from the state
during this time of economic recovery is disruptive of the nascent
recovery, and separates and disrupts families and community, with
significant secondary effects on the state economy and the state
education system.
   (q) The Legislature recognizes and acknowledges the federal
government's exclusive authority in the area of immigration
regulation, including the determination of enforcement priorities and
the granting of discretionary relief on an individual or class wide
basis.
   (r) The failure of the Congress to act on much-needed federal
legislation to provide relief from deportation and a pathway to
citizenship for those millions of undocumented persons who have
resided peacefully in California and other states for many years,
raising families, paying taxes, and contributing to our economy and
society, has perpetuated a structural problem in our state economy,
with too many workers intimidated from playing a complete role in our
social and economic development by the lack of legal protection
occasioned by their status.
   (s) Despite these impediments, many undocumented workers have
endeavored year after year to file California state income tax
returns using an individual taxpayer identification number.
   (t) Encouraging those who are not eligible to receive a social
security number to file a California state income tax return using an
individual taxpayer identification number is in the best interest of
the state, its economy, and its tax laws.
   (u) California will benefit from a program to provide undocumented
persons who are agricultural or service industry employees with a
permit to work and live in California.