BILL NUMBER: AJR 12	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 26, 2015

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Eduardo Garcia, Brown, and Roger
Hernández
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Chiu, Cristina Garcia, Gonzalez, and
Rendon)

                        MARCH 24, 2015

   Relative to the H-1B Visa program.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AJR 12, as amended, Eduardo Garcia. H-1B Visa program: 
Southern California Edison Company.   investigation of
misuse. 
   This measure would urge the United States Department of Labor and
the Congress of the United States to investigate alleged misuse of
the H1-B Visa  program by Southern California Edison Company.
  program. 
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, The H-1B Visa program allows businesses to temporarily
hire highly skilled foreign workers with specialized knowledge where
a qualified United States worker cannot be found; and
   WHEREAS, The H-1B Visa program was never intended to be used as a
catalyst for  lying   laying  off United
 State's   States   '  workers and
replacing them with H-1B workers; and
   WHEREAS, The granting of H-1B Visas should never result in the
creation of a virtual pipeline for outsourcing United States
workforce jobs; and
   WHEREAS, California's average unemployment rate in January 2015
was 6.9 percent with Imperial County's unemployment rate being 20.6
percent; and
   WHEREAS,  Southern California Edison Company is reported
to be   Some companies are  misusing the federal
H-1B Visa program  , including the documented misuse by one
California public utility  to replace 400 California workers;
and 
   WHEREAS, Southern California Edison Company has admitted that
these laid-off workers are being replaced by overseas consulting
services; and 
   WHEREAS, Senate Bill No. 477 (Chapter 711 of the Statutes of 2014)
seeks to end the exploitation of foreign, temporary, nonimmigrant
workers brought to California under various federal work visa
programs; and
   WHEREAS, Displaced American workers are being exploited through
the misapplication of the H-1B Visa program; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly, That the Legislature respectfully  urge
  urges  the United States Department of Labor and
the Congress of the United States to investigate this alleged misuse
of the H1-B Visa  program by Southern California Edison
Company;   program;  and be it further
   Resolved, That  Southern California Edison Company is
urged to discontinue   any company that has engaged
  in this improper practice is urged to immediately cease
 the practice of replacing California employees with foreign
workers under this, or any other, program; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority
Leader of the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader of the
Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, and each Senator and
Representative from California in the Congress of the United States.