Signed by Governor Jay Inslee

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with house amendments and pass a bill that establishes a statewide policy supporting Washington's economy and immigrants' role in the workplace.

Highlights:

• Establishes a Washington working statewide group within the Department of Homeland Security to support business and agricultural leadership, civic groups, and immigrant advocacy groups to look at approaches to improve Washington’s ability to attract and retain immigrant business owners (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the work group must consist of 11 representatives serving a period of 3 years, from geographically diverse immigrant advocacy groups, professional associations representing businesses, labor organizations, agricultural and immigrant legal interest, faith based community non-profits, legal advocacy groups focused on immigration and criminal justice, academic institutions, and law enforcement (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes the attorney general to publish model policies, within 12 months of the effective date of this act, for limiting immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible under federal law, at the following locations, including (Sec. 4):

• Public schools;

• Health facilities operated by the state or a political subdivision of the state;

• Courthouses; and

• Shelters.

• Requires public schools, health facilities, and courthouses to adopt necessary changes to policies that are consistent with the state model, or to notify the attorney general that the agency is not adopting their policy and explain the reasons why, providing documentation of their own policies (Sec. 4).

• Prohibits state agencies, including law enforcement, from using any state funds, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to investigate, enforce, cooperate with, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of federal registration or surveillance programs that target Washington residents solely on the basis of race, religion, immigration, or citizenship status (Sec. 5).

• Prohibits state agencies and employers from conditioning services or requesting information or proof regarding an individual’s immigration status, citizenship status, or place of birth (Sec. 5).

• Requires local law enforcement agencies, within 12 months of the effective date of this act, to publish policies that ensure state and local law enforcement duties are carried out in a way that limits engagement with immigration authorities to the fullest extent under federal and state law, in order to develop state and law enforcement trust within communities (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass with amendment a bill that establishes a statewide policy supporting Washington's economy and immigrants' role in the workplace.

Highlights:

• Establishes a Washington working statewide group within the Department of Homeland Security to support business and agricultural leadership, civic groups, and immigrant advocacy groups to look at approaches to improve Washington’s ability to attract and retain immigrant business owners (Sec. 3).

• Specifies that the work group must consist of 11 representatives serving a period of 3 years, from geographically diverse immigrant advocacy groups, professional associations representing businesses, labor organizations, agricultural and immigrant legal interest, faith based community non-profits, legal advocacy groups focused on immigration and criminal justice, academic institutions, and law enforcement (Sec. 3).

• Authorizes the attorney general to publish model policies, within 12 months of the effective date of this act, for limiting immigration enforcement to the fullest extent possible under federal law, at the following locations, including (Sec. 4):

• Public schools;

• Health facilities operated by the state or a political subdivision of the state;

• Courthouses; and

• Shelters.

• Requires public schools, health facilities, and courthouses to adopt necessary changes to policies that are consistent with the state model, or to notify the attorney general that the agency is not adopting their policy and explain the reasons why, providing documentation of their own policies (Sec. 4).

• Prohibits state agencies, including law enforcement, from using any state funds, facilities, property, equipment, or personnel to investigate, enforce, cooperate with, or assist in the investigation or enforcement of federal registration or surveillance programs that target Washington residents solely on the basis of race, religion, immigration, or citizenship status (Sec. 5).

• Prohibits state agencies and employers from conditioning services or requesting information or proof regarding an individual’s immigration status, citizenship status, or place of birth (Sec. 5).

• Requires local law enforcement agencies, within 12 months of the effective date of this act, to publish policies that ensure state and local law enforcement duties are carried out in a way that limits engagement with immigration authorities to the fullest extent under federal and state law, in order to develop state and law enforcement trust within communities (Sec. 7).

Full Bill Text