2012-2013 Legislation Advocacy Update.
“If we are to make a difference, we must do something different –Dr. Wendell Hylton
Example: Bill number HB111, SB222
HB – House Bill SB – Senate Bill HJ or SJ – Study
Year Bill was last introduced (2007)
SB 796 (2011) Prisoner Literacy, Education, Therapeutic, vocational rehabilitation with additional “earned” sentence credit (new law)
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=111&typ=bil&val=SB796
20SENTENCE.docHJ122 (2012) Parole Reinstituted (65%) Study: required literacy, education, therapeutic, Vocational rehabilitation.
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=121&typ=bil&val=HJ122HB2127
Earned Second Chance Provision Volunteer Tax Credit to pay for SB 796 increase literacy, education, therapeutic and vocational rehabilitation.
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=111&typ=bil&val=HB2127
HB1632 (2011)Expansion of TANF for former Drug Conviction felons – additional eligibility programs
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?ses=111&typ=bil&val=HB1632
Restoration of Voting and Civil & Voting Rights (Constitutional amendment (first resolution)
http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+sum+SJ35 http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+sum+HJ125 http://lis.virginia.gov/cgi-bin/legp604.exe?121+sum+HJ17
Parole Board: Non-legislative Agenda
Fair and Consistent Parole board hearing decisions for estimated 5,000 parole eligible Virginia prisoners. (Old law)
2. Understand how legislation/bills are passed: http://legis.virginia.gov/1_cit_guide/howabill.htm
3. Many of the state legislators will say that they aren’t on the committees for the below legislation. That’s just a political cop-out! At the end of the day, when a bill makes it out of Committee, it later goes for a FULL vote! To learn more on how bills are passed in Virginia: http://legis.virginia.gov/1_cit_guide/howabill.htm
4. Call, email, write, meet with your district state legislators as soon as possible. Request that your district state legislators review the legislation, support the Community Restoration Campaign coalition and its efforts to move forward the below bills. It is very important that you let your district state legislators know that you are a concerned, that you are willing to work with them towards a fair and commonsense bill that doesn’t jeopardize the safety of your community and Virginians. In a pleasant way, inform your legislators that future votes will be based upon their voting record and concern for the community they pledge to serve.
Ask your district state legislator to patron/sponsored or co-patron/co-sponsor any/all of the below legislation during the 2013 General Assembly? Let them know that you, your family and community will be attending hearings during the 2013 General Assembly? That you are willing to work with them to better the proposed legislation/bills.
5. Don’t forget to share your experiences through the flip camera campaign (here at the Campaign site), Campaign Blog POST, email, letter to: rihd23075@aol.com
REMINDER: To register at the Campaign site “PLEDGE” – GOAL: 100,000 “
As always, Peace and Blessings.
Lillie Branch-Kennedy (Ms. K)
Executive Director
Resource Information Help for the Disadvantaged (RIHD)
PO Box 55 – Highland Springs – Virginia 23075
Website: http://www.rihd.org/