Spanberger signs paid sick leave, vetoes immigration measure (copy) (copy)
Law enforcement officers — including federal immigration agents — won’t be able to hide their identities while on duty, and almost all Virginia employees will be entitled to paid sick leave under legislation Gov. Abigail Spanberger signed into law.
But Spanberger vetoed measures, House Bill 650 and Senate Bill 351, that would have required federal immigration agents to have a warrant issued by a magistrate or judge to arrest people in courthouses, schools and hospitals.
House Bill 5 and Senate Bill 199 say companies, as well as state and local governments, must provide 1 hour of paid sick leave for every 30 hours an employee works — so that 6 weeks of 40-hour-a-week working means an employee could take a sick day.
Roughly 1.2 million private-sector employees in Virginia, mainly in low-wage jobs, don’t have paid sick leave.
House Bill 1482 and Senate Bill 352 say law enforcement officers must display badges or other ID with their name or ID number and agency when on duty, and can’t mask their faces. The bill does allow officers to wear medical masks and respirators when exposed to toxins, smoke or similar hazards.
Spanberger signed these bills even though the General Assembly rejected her proposed amendments to them.
Update: Spanberger vetoes prescription drug bill, several others
In recent days, Spanberger has vetoed other bills after the legislature rejected her amendments, including measures to create a legal retail market for marijuana, peg medication prices to what Medicare pays and allow unions to bargain for government employees’ wages and work conditions, all top priorities of Democratic leaders in the General Assembly.
“Virginia is making clear that a fair day’s work comes with the dignity of being able to stay home when you are sick or need to care for a sick family member,” Spanberger said.
She had earlier signed measures creating a paid family medical leave program that allows Virginians to receive some pay if they take the 12 weeks of time federal law allows to care for a family member or deal with a serious illness. The federal law says people can't lose their jobs when they take leave, but it does not provide for any pay while on leave.
Spanberger said her rejected amendments for the paid sick leave bills were aimed at easing implementation. Her rejected changes included eliminating some record-keeping requirements.
“This means being able to take time off to see a doctor when you are sick,” said state Sen. Barbara Favola, D-Arlington, who sponsored the Senate bill.
"No worker should be forced to sacrifice their paycheck or risk their job when they or a loved one are sick,” said Inimai Chettiar, president of A Better Balance, a workplace rights advocacy organization.
Last year, then-Gov. Glenn Youngkin vetoed the same measure.
The paid sick leave bills passed on party-line votes.
So did the law enforcement masking bill.
Spanberger said she signed the bill because she feels strongly about public trust in law enforcement as a former law enforcement officer.
Virginia's local and state law enforcement officers have built that trust, she said, adding that she doesn't want to see that wrecked "in the ways that we have seen and witnessed in Minnesota, where masked federal agents enforcing immigration law have created fear, division and deep, deep concern.”
In Minneapolis this year, masked Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had shot and killed two U.S. citizens and drew fire for heavy-handed, aggressive acts against protesters.
Del. Charlie Schmidt, D-Richmond, who sponsored the House bill, said it would protect Virginians from lawless acts by masked ICE agents.
“This new law will bring us closer to regaining the public trust that has been shattered by the Trump administration,” he said.
Spanberger said she vetoed the bills on warrants to enter courthouses and other public facilities because they "would effectively require security guards and, in some instances, local law enforcement to be placed in the untenable position of choosing between violating state law or federal law."
But she said she wanted to address the intent of the bills.
At the same she vetoed the bills, she issued an executive order that says state officials must confirm that federal immigration offers have a valid warrant or court order to entering non-public areas of state facilities to enforce immigration law.
The order also says state officials cannot allow immigration agents to use non-public areas of state facilities as an operations base.
Delegate Katrina Callsen, D-Albemarle, who sponsored the House bill, said the aim was simple.
“ICE agents should have a judicial warrant and identification when conducting arrests in protected spaces. All Virginians deserve to feel safe taking their child to school, seeking medical care, appearing in court or exercising their right to vote without fear or intimidation by federal agents,” she said.
Spanberger signs gun, power bills despite rejected amendments
Days to go, and Spanberger has dozens of bills still to consider
Dave Ress (804) 649-6948
