Refugee resettlement plan accountability.

24LSO-0542
2024
STATE OF WYOMING
24LSO-0542
Numbered
2.0

HOUSE BILL NO. HB0158

Refugee resettlement plan accountability.

Sponsored by: Representative(s) Locke, Allemand, Bear, Haroldson, Heiner, Jennings, Knapp, Ottman, Pendergraft, Penn, Slagle, Smith, Styvar and Ward and Senator(s) Laursen, D

A BILL

for

AN ACT relating to the administration of government; requiring legislative approval of a refugee resettlement plan; providing for assignment of a refugee resettlement plan to a legislative committee; requiring public hearings; requiring reports; and providing for an effective date.

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:

Section 1
.

W.S. 9
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25
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101 is created to read:

CHAPTER 25
REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT

9
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25
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101.

Wyoming refugee resettlement plan accountability; review; reports.

(a)

The Wyoming legislature is hereby declared to be the appropriate legislative authority of the state in accordance with 45 C.F.R. part 400, with exclusive authority to designate a state agency to develop and administer, or supervise the administration of, any refugee resettlement plan and to designate a state coordinator to be responsible for the coordination of public and private resources for refugee resettlement. As used in this section, "refugee resettlement plan" means any written description of a refugee or asylum seeking resettlement program or any commitment by the governor or any designee of the governor to administer or supervise the administration of a refugee or asylum seeking resettlement program pursuant to the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §§ 1521 through 1524.

(b)

Not later than July 1, 2024, the governor or any designee of the governor shall rescind all refugee resettlement plans or agreements submitted to the federal office of refugee resettlement within the United States department of health and human services made before April 1, 2024. No refugee resettlement plan for refugees to be placed in the state of Wyoming shall be effective until the refugee resettlement plan is submitted to and approved by the legislature as provided under subsections (c) and (d) of this section.

(c)

The governor or any designee of the governor shall submit any refugee resettlement plan to the legislature for approval. Any refugee resettlement plan submitted to the legislature shall provide:

(i)

A description of how the state intends to encourage effective refugee resettlement and to promote economic self
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sufficiency of refugees as quickly as possible;

(ii)

A description of how the state will ensure that language training and employment services are made available to refugees receiving cash assistance;

(iii)

A recommendation for the designation of a state employee or official who will be responsible for ensuring coordination of public and private resources for refugee resettlement;

(iv)

For the care and supervision of, and legal responsibility for, unaccompanied refugee children in the state;

(v)

For the identification of refugees who, at the time of resettlement in the state, have medical conditions requiring, or medical histories showing a need for, treatment or observation and for any monitoring of treatment or observation as may be necessary;

(vi)

A description of funds necessary to implement the refugee resettlement plan and a complete description of projected federal or private funds available to carry out the refugee resettlement plan, including reimbursements, grants and contracts. The description shall include a timeline for receipt and expenditure of funds and a projection of any state funds necessary to implement the refugee resettlement plan after all reimbursements, grants and contracts are exhausted.

(d)

Upon receipt of any plan proposed and submitted under subsection (c) of this section, the management council of the legislature shall assign the refugee resettlement plan to a joint interim committee of the legislature. The assigned joint interim committee shall review the plan and convene public hearings to receive comments from Wyoming citizens, local government representatives, volunteer agencies and other parties interested in the plan. The committee shall report recommendations for consideration by the legislature in the next legislative session and may develop and introduce legislation to implement or authorize any refugee resettlement plan.

Section 2
.

This act is effective immediately upon completion of all acts necessary for a bill to become law as provided by Article 4, Section 8 of the Wyoming Constitution.

(END)

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HB0158