Councilors Call on MA Senate to Pass Work & Family Mobility Act

On March 17, 2020, the Framingham City Council voted to adopt a resolution in support of The Work and Family Mobility Act, which was presented by Councilor Margareth Shepard. The Resolution passed with 8 councilors voting in favor (Christine Long, Cesar Stewart-Morales, Adam Steiner, Robert Case, Phil Ottaviani, Margareth Shepard, John Stefanini, Tracey Bryant) and 3 councilors abstaining from the vote (Michael Cannon, George King, Janet Leombruno).

The passing of the Work and Family Mobility Act, which was referred to the MA Senate Committee on Ways and Means, would help improve the safety of our roadways. The Work and Family Mobility Act would allow all qualified residents, regardless of immigration status, to receive a standard license. Removing this barrier encourages all drivers to obtain driver's licenses and to be properly insured.

Today, I issue this statement to remind the MA Senate of the strong support for this legislation by the Framingham City Council, as indicated by it's passing of the related resolution. Furthermore, I call on our esteemed Senate President Karen E. Spilka, our local representative in the Senate, to continue to support the safety and prosperity of families in our City, our District and our Commonwealth by taking actions necessary to move the Work and Family Mobility Act forward before the end of the current legislative session.

Cesar Stewart-Morales (he/him/el)

Framingham City Councilor, District 2

cs@framinghamma.gov

Resolution Text:

Framingham City Council: Resolution on the Act Relative to Work and Family Mobility

A resolution calling on the Massachusetts Legislature to pass the Act Relative to Work and Family Mobility, filed by Senator Brendan Crighton (S.2061), and Representatives Patricia Farley-Bouvier and Christine Barber (H.3012), that would allow qualified Massachusetts residents to obtain a standard driver's license regardless of their immigration status.

Whereas, there are between 41,000 and 78,000 Massachusetts residents who cannot obtain a driver’s license because of their federal immigration status; and

Whereas, many undocumented immigrants need to drive, whether it is for work, to take their children to school, or for other essential appointments; and

Whereas, to date, fifteen other states and the District of Columbia allow undocumented immigrants to obtain drivers licenses, including many in our Northeast region, such as Connecticut, Vermont, New York, and New Jersey, in addition to Delaware, New Mexico, Utah, Oregon, Nevada, Illinois, Washington, Maryland, Colorado, Hawaii and California; and

Whereas, the Massachusetts Major City Chiefs Association, made up of Chiefs of Police, Commissioners or Superintendents of Police from a municipal subdivision of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the State Police, and Transit Police in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, have as well endorsed the bill as “common-sense public policy that benefits everyone;” and

Whereas, the proposed bill has been endorsed by many city mayors, including those from Boston, Somerville, and Revere; and

Whereas, passing a bill that grants driver's licenses to qualified undocumented immigrants is in the best interest of the entire population of Massachusetts because immigrants wanting to drive legally will have to pass written and practical driver's exams, register their vehicles, and obtain automobile insurance; and

Whereas, allowing undocumented immigrants the opportunity to obtain a driver's license will produce increased revenue for the State from license and registration fees; and

Whereas, immigrants with driver’s licenses will more easily integrate into their communities which is beneficial to all Massachusetts residents;

Now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the City Council of the City of Framingham calls upon the Massachusetts Legislature to pass the Act Relative to Work and Family Mobility (S.2061/H.3012), that would allow undocumented immigrants to obtain a driver's license regardless of their immigration status.