Special Alerts-Virginia

Here are the amazing 2021 legislative results for our SALT Family Services (TANF) and Criminal Justice Priorities/Issues:

SALT Family Services (TANF) Priorities:

1. PASSED! Our Budget Amendment Item 350 #1s increased TANF benefits & the Standards of Assistance by 10% effective July1, 2021. This Budget amendment also increases TANF Benefits by 10% each year—addressing our continuing “goal to close the gap!!” --by bringing TANF benefits up to 50% of the poverty level! It also provides for INDEXING TANF for Cost of Living adjustment Increases annually!
2. SALT is in support of our continuing goal to close the gap!! --by bringing TANF benefits up to a FAMILY LIVING STANDARD above the poverty level! SALT URGES Virginia to partner with the Federal Government in seeking project demonstration grants to guarantee low-income families a basic incomes designed to reduce child poverty by 50%—to replace TANF and to provide Pro-work incentives. Early Current findings in other States indicate–once poor family recipients get a little more money they want more & go to work-- to earn and end their dependency—becoming tax payers--Just the facts!
3. (Defeated)--Increase TANF Income Disregards allowing TANF families to keep a greater amount of their income earnings up to the Poverty level instead of subtracting it from their welfare grants. Amendment Item 350 #5s by Senator Hashmi
4. (LAID ON THE TABLE)-SALT TANF Time-Limit Proposals—to change TANF so that the time limit for receiving benefits is a continuous 5 years, not 2 years!

SALT Criminal Justice Priorities:

1. PASSED! Prison Family Video Visitation Program Budget Amendments by Delegate Kaye Kory Item 400 #1h & Item 400 #1s by Senator Adam Ebbin.

   – NOTE: SALT Supports Ending Prison Family Video Visitation rate gouging by Global Tel making it unaffordable for low-income families @ $20 for 40 minutes, defeating goals of family reintegration & re-entry.

2. (Defeated in R&SS) Ending the Management and Operation of Virginia Private Prisons by GEO-- SB-1179. NOTE: SALT will support the ending of the management & operation --maladministration and cruelty of the industry at Lawrenceville Prison in Virginia. It is past time to stand against private industry profiting. Private prisons are politically and morally indefensible. Also, NOTE the need to confront the corrupting influence of Big money in politics & Support the ending of Political Contributions by Virginia State Contractors, i.e. GEO!

3. (Passed with “Clause” by Senate 23-16; died in House Appropriations ). The Virginia Coalition to Limit Solitary Confinement--SB 1301 by Senator Joseph Morrissey; Our coalition attacked the validity of Fiscal Impact Statements as a way of killing bills with grossly exaggerated cost estimates at $40 million –adjusted to $10 million- when several other states ending Solitary Confinement report millions of dollars in savings. SALT Support legislation requiring all Budget & Planning estimates to include savings—not just Costs!!
4. (Appropriations SubC – Laid on the Table) Corrections Ombudsman DOC Report HB 2325 by Delegate Patrick Hope provides for independent power, accountability, and transparency to inspect prisons, recommend and monitor improvements to prison conditions and facilities, and help resolve prisoner, staff, and family concerns.
5. Passed! Legislation to abolish the death penalty in Virginia HB 2263 by Sen. Scott Surovell & Governor signed. CONGRATUALTIONS !! Virginia is the first Southern State to END THE DATH PENALTY!
6. Passed! Expand automatic expungement in Virginia: In 2025. Virginia will automatically seal cases that were dropped & in nine different misdemeanor convictions and low-level felonies such as larceny and drug possession.
7. Passed! Delegate Kathleen Murphy, removes the ability for convicted domestic abusers to own or purchase firearms for 3 years after conviction.
8. Senator Mamie Locke and Delegate Charniele Herring, restores voting rights to persons convicted of a felony once their sentence has been completed. The resolution will need to pass the 2022 General Assembly, then will head to a voter referendum. CONGRATS!!
9. PASSED! Jeremy McPike, ends new coal tax credits on January 1, 2022. NOTE: What about Tax credits for Motion Picture, Yachts Builders, Wineries, others? Time to end all of these?
10. SB 1300 by Senator Barbara Favola-- A study to require the State Board of Local and Regional jails to meet with stakeholders to ensure that the pre-natal, delivery and postpartum care provided to pregnant inmates meets the recommended standards of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.
11. SB 1220 by Senator Barbara Favola--Removes the requirement that State MH facilities inquire about the immigration status of prospective patients during the admissions process and ensures that patient's records will not be shared with ICE unless there is a court order.
    Support:
12. Eliminate the $5.00 medical co-pays for inmates in Virginia prisons; and provide Official IDs for Virginians returning from incarceration. Both remove significant barriers to people preparing to and attempting to return to society.
13. Release all medically fragile adults, especially adults over the age of 60, to parole supervision. Jails and prisons, as you already know, house many vulnerable people with chronic illnesses and complex medical needs, who are more vulnerable to becoming seriously ill and requiring more medical care with COVID-19.
14. Lift all fees for calls to family members. Because VDOC has limited visits to those incarcerated, it is critical for the incarcerated to have the capability to easily communicate with their family members and loved ones
15. Support Pell Grants for prisoners, determine if State enabling legislation is needed.

SALT thanks legislators for their good work and reminds them that more remains to be done. Again, it was very productive for progressive legislation for TANF families, restraining guns, reforming prisons and inmate conditions, and compassionate immigrant legislation. Thank you for your public service!