21 2021
INDIANA LATINO LEGISLATIVE & ADVOCACY AGENDA
Our mission is to improve health and advance education for the Indiana Latino community through statewide advocacy, research, and culturally responsive programs.
2021 LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE The
Indiana
Legislative Indiana
Latino
Advisory
Institute Committee
Congressional
Districts.
has
launched
with The
a
statewide
representatives
purpose
of
the
from
Latino all
committee
nine is
to
develop a Latino Legislative Agenda that addresses issues that affect all Latino communities across the state.
MEMBERS DISTRICT 1
DISTRICT 4
DISTRICT 7
Alfredo Estrada
Cassandra Salazar
Edwin Arellano
Myrna Maldonado
Carina Olaru
Rick Proctor Matzine Sanchez
DISTRICT 2
DISTRICT 5
Sam Centellas
Henry Fernandez
Richard Aguirre
Amber Garcia
DISTRICT 8 Daniela Vidal Jonas Cueche
DISTRICT 3
DISTRICT 6
JoAnne Alvarez
Luz Elena Michel
Steve Corona
Whitney Amuchastegui
DISTRICT 9 Miguel Hampton Yolanda Trevino
UNITED STATES DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN
Latino 18%
African American 13%
Asian 6% White 60%
Native American/Indigenous 1% Pacific Islander .5% Multiracial 2%
[1] US Census, 2019 American Community Survey [2] Annie E. Casey Foundation [3] Pew Research Center
INDIANA DEMOGRAPHIC BREAKDOWN White 77.5%
Latino 7.3% African American 9.9%
Asian 2.6%
Native American/ Indigenous .4%
Pacific Islander <.1%
Multiracial 2.2%
The growing number of Latino Hoosiers comprises 7.3% of the state's population, which more than doubled in the past 20 years. The thriving Indiana Latino community contributes more than $400 million in taxes annually. [5]
[4] [5] US Census, 2019 ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates [5] Latin Post, 2015
Marlene Dotson President & CEO
Indiana Latino Institute
LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT Latino
Hoosiers
culturally
rich
are
woven
fabric.
Yet,
require
additional
services
leading
statewide
Latino
through
all
sectors
they
face
complex
and
new
policies.
advocacy
of
Indiana’s
challenges As
one
organizations,
the
that
of
the
Indiana
Latino Institute (ILI) presents a list of policy priorities to address critical
issues
Legislative from
the
affecting
Advisory
state’s
nine
Latinos
Committee,
in
Indiana.
comprised
congressional
districts,
We
thank
ILI’s
of
representatives
for
your
support
in
crafting this agenda.
These
recommendations
Assembly,
the
Executive
are
addressed
Branch,
and
not
just
other
to
the
specific
General
government
segments, but to all concerned Hoosiers who want to accelerate Indiana’s
progress.
impacted
at
community
both
The a
advocacy
issues
Latinos
legislative and
policy
education
in
Indiana
level
efforts.
and You
face
can
through will
be
local
notice
our
agenda is broken down into those two areas.
Diligently
identifying
critical
developing
recommendations,
ILI
issues will
and
continue
convenor of Latino networks and organizations.
collaboratively to
serve
as
a
2 0
THE ISSUES EDUCATION - Increase “Complexity Index” and ELL Funding
- Expand Early-Childhood Education
- Diversify Teaching and Increase Teacher Pay
- Incentives Plan for Postsecondary Institutions
- Offer In-State Tuition for Undocumented Students
- Increase 21st Century Scholars Participation
- Free Community College Education
- Access to Broadband,
Wi-Fi, and Technology
HEALTH - Increase Cigarette Tax by $2.00 Per Pack
- Availability of COVID-19 Vaccines and Testing
- Fully Fund Health Education Programs
- Access to Technology for Virtual Health Exams - Access to Bilingual Mental Health Resources
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
2
- Employee Protections from COVID-19
- Access to Resources for Latino-Owned Businesses
- Extension of Unemployment Benefits
- Improving Public Transit and Infrastructure
- Increase the Minimum Wage $10/Hour
PUBLIC SAFETY - Driver's Cards for Undocumented Immigrants
- Improve Language Services in the Courts
- Bias Crime Bill and Law Enforcement Reforms
- Improve Community Policing
CIVIC PARTICIPATION - Involve Latinos in Redistricting Process - Facilitate Voter Engagement
- Diversify Executive Branch Staffing
LEGISLATIVE POLICY
EDUCATION [6] The Rockefeller Institute [7] WSBT 22
While 16”
Latino
gains,
students
were
preliminary
making
reports
“pre-K
point
to
to the
coronavirus pandemic reversing many of those advances.
Access
equipment
inhibited
example,
and
rates
Latino
of
to
adversely
the
Wi-Fi virtual
already
high
low-income
affordable
quality
by
schooling,
low
school
affected
Propelling
broadband
and for
college-going
graduates the
students
was
pandemic. to
early-childhood
success, education
INCREASE FUNDING FOR THE “COMPLEXITY INDEX” AND ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNER (ELL) SERVICES Throughout Indiana, school districts are enrolling more indigent and immigrant Latino
students
requiring
additional
academic
support
from
cash-strapped
schools and underprepared staff. Latino students comprise at least 10% of the student body in 77 school corporations, and four are Latino-majority districts (located
in
academic
rural
and
outcomes
suburban by
areas).
implementing
Increasing
funding
proven-effective
will
and
improve culturally
appropriate strategies for Latino learners.
remains out of reach for far too many Latino families. Investments in education at all levels will
help
restore
educational
gains,
attainment
and close equity gaps.
further of
increase
Latino
the
Hoosiers,
DIVERSIFY THE TEACHING PROFESSION AND INCREASE TEACHER PAY With Latino students comprising almost 13% of Indiana’s K-12 students, Latino teachers make up only 1.8% of the teaching force [8]. The research shows that students of color do better when taught by educators who look like them [9]. According
to
the
Education
Trust
and
TeachPlus
[10],
Indiana
must
more
effectively and intentionally recruit and retain teachers of color by improving compensation packages and implementing other strategies.
OFFER IN-STATE TUITION FOR ALL UNDOCUMENTED POSTSECONDARY STUDENTS In Indiana, thousands of Latino high-school graduates, who emigrated to the United States as children, cannot afford to enroll in college because they are being charged the tuition rate for foreign students and they do not qualify for state aid. As Indiana is one of only three states with laws specifically prohibiting offering in-state tuition rates and state financial aid to “illegal alien” students [11], this policy must be reversed to make college affordable for many students.
FREE COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATION FOR FAMILIES WITH INCOME UNDER $75,000 Maintaining a vibrant Hoosier economy requires improvements in the workforce’s educational attainment. And, a quality postsecondary credential is a ticket out of poverty. Yet, only 19% of Latinos in Indiana hold a postsecondary degree. With
higher
academic
expectations
of
the
workforce,
community
college
education and training should be at no cost to families with incomes under $75,000.
College Enrollment
51%
65%
Latino Enrollment
Statewide Average
[12] Indiana Commission for Higher Education
EDUCATION ADVOCACY EFFORTS
EXPAND QUALITY AND ACCESS TO EARLY-CHILDHOOD EDUCATION According
to
the
Federal
Reserve
Bank
DEVELOP INCENTIVE PLANS FOR POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS [13],
Quality certificates and degrees improve employment
investments in quality early-learning programs have a
and other opportunities for the Latino community. As
“high public return.” ILI urges state officials to collect
Indiana colleges are expected to enroll more Latino
data and develop plans to place more young Latinos
students, ILI calls on the General Assembly to develop
on paths to higher educational achievement which
financial
begin with universal enrollment in exceptional early
effective programming with higher completion rates
learning programs.
for Latino students.
incentives
for
institutions
that
implement
INCREASE 21ST CENTURY SCHOLARS PARTICIPATION The
21st
Century
Scholars
program
financially
IMPROVE ACCESS TO BROADBAND, WI-FI, AND TECHNOLOGY All students now utilize online educational resources
supports students through their four years in college.
and,
However, parents or guardians of qualified Scholars
connected to the internet. The COVID-19 pandemic
must register their children while in 7th or 8th grade.
exasperated the digital divide. ILI urges policymakers
ILI recommends that state officials collect and publish data
on
Latino
enrollment
and
hold
accountable
schools for ensuring all eligible students register.
to
at
times,
ensure
virtual
Latino
instruction
students
are
through
fully
devices
engaged
in
learning by having the appropriate technology and access to broadband.
INCREASE CIGARETTE AND E-LIQUID TAX BY $2.00 PER PACK By
raising
the
cigarette
tax,
policymakers
will
immediately
see
reduced smoking rates, especially among low-income populations, youth, and communities of color. And, long term, Latinos and other Hoosiers will see lower rates of heart disease, lung cancer, and other
LEGISLATIVE POLICY
illnesses causing untold personal and economic hardships.
HEALTH COVID-19 claiming number Now public Indiana policy
a of
is
and
tobacco
time
health
Hoosier to
lives.
fully
fund
initiatives,
the
Latino makers
are
disproportionate
Latino
this
use
Institute to
support
[14] Raise it for Health
urges these
FULLY FUND HEALTH EDUCATION AND PREVENTION PROGRAMS
efforts.
The
research
is
clear—the
returns
on
investments
in
state-funded
prevention programs means lower health-care costs, higher workforce productivity, and more. Closing the health disparities between Latinos and other Hoosiers starts with fully funded education campaigns to promote healthy lifestyles.
WIDER AVAILABILITY OF COVID-19 VACCINES AND TESTING As
Latinos
are
disproportionally
poor
and
work
in
service
industries, ILI recommends policymakers expand access to free COVID-19 testing and vaccines for essential employees and to employees in professions with high rates of transmission, such as poultry processing enterprises, irrespective of immigration status.
ACCESS TO TECHNOLOGY FOR VIRTUAL HEALTH EXAMS Like other fields, the medical profession is increasing its use of
HEALTH
virtual sessions, IT applications, and other web-based services. ILI recommends that the General Assembly create a summer study commission on impact of virtual health on Latino and other lowincome populations. Latinos need appropriate policies ensuring access to virtual health services.
ACCESS TO BILINGUAL MENTAL HEALTH RESOURCES The
impact
of
COVID-19
on
mental
health
has
added
an
additional stressor on our Latino youth and families highlighting the need for more bilingual counselors, therapists and culturally appropriate educational campaigns. a
list
of
bilingual
mental
health
ILI recommends compiling
professionals
and
creating
bilingual educational materials destigmatizing mental health and offering support services in Spanish.
ADVOCACY EFFORTS
EMPLOYEE PROTECTIONS FROM COVID-19 TRANSMISSION As
LEGISLATIVE POLICY
detected
COVID-19
“hot
spots”
are
in
locations
employing
large
numbers of Latinos, such as food processing plants, ILI recommends that the
WORKFORCE Latino
Hoosier
disproportionally low
wages
In
and
addition
educational assist
families poor
as
a
business to
hard-working
acquiring
the
poverty
result
their
Latinos
Latino-owned wages.
With
earnings, contribute prosperity families.
by
businesses increased
Latino
can
climb
toward while
building
and
to
employees
are
held
the
accountable
personal
for
protective
With the economy not expecting a full recovery until late 2021 at the earliest, and as the hospitality and other service industries employ many
can
the
supporting
disproportionally
affected
by
COVID-19,
ILI
recommends
that
unemployment benefits period be extend by six months.
raising
capacity
Hoosiers
distributing
employers
EXTENSION OF UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
of
challenges.
Indiana
rate
and
ensure
equipment (PPE) and that workplace safety regulations are strengthened.
Latinos
above
Assembly
are
raising
attainment,
General
and fully
INCREASE THE MINIMUM WAGE $10/HOUR
state’s their
Indiana’s minimum wage is lower than the neighboring states of Illinois, Ohio, and Michigan. ILI recommends a minimum wage increase to $10.00 per hour, which would boost many Latino families out of the depths of poverty.
ACCESS TO RESOURCES FOR LATINO-OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES
WORKFORCE ADVOCACY EFFORTS
Latino communities are incubators of small businesses and cottage
industries,
building
wealth.
promoting
employing
ILI
thousands
recommends
economic
that
development
of
Hoosiers
Indiana
focus
on
and
agencies fostering
business opportunities and strengthening existing businesses in Latino communities.
40%
35%
30%
IMPROVING PUBLIC TRANSIT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
20%
A reliable and efficient transportation system [17] is a key ingredient in economic development, business productivity, better
health,
and
self-sufficiency,
including
in
Latino
10%
15.3% 10%
communities. Distressed areas often suffer from poor mass transit and decaying road and bridge infrastructure. Lowincome Latinos cannot afford reliable personal vehicles. ILI
ensure
Latino
neighborhoods
e t i h W
o n i t a L
benefit from future investments.
that
h tu o Y
to
o n i t a L
plans
s re is o o H
infrastructure
s re is o o H
recommends that the state examine its public-transit and
0%
[15] Kaiser Family Foundation [16] Indiana Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs
LEGISLATIVE POLICY
PUBLIC SAFETY Last
year
was
The
state’s
again
marked
diversity,
implementation
of
by
equity,
civil and
best-practices
in
unrest
over
inclusion law
racial journey
enforcement
issues must and
affecting include
training,
racial,
ethnic,
protections
and
access
and
for
to
immigrant
hate-crime
civil
and
groups. victims,
criminal
court
processes by limited-English-speaking Latinos.
DRIVER'S CARDS FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS
BIAS CRIME BILL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT REFORMS
As safe roads include licenses all motorists and insurance policies for
Racial and ethnic tensions create fear in communities of color. In a
all motor vehicles, fifteen states and the District of Columbia [18] issue
report from October 2020, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security
driving
ILI
Secretary expressed his concern about “...violent extremists who have
recommends creating a different licensing category—drivers cards—to
been exceptionally lethal in their abhorrent, targeted attacks....” [19] ILI
allow immigrants with other forms of official identification to apply for
recommends for Indiana to respond by strengthening the penalties for
driving privileges and purchase car insurance.
crimes
privileges
to
qualified
undocumented
immigrants.
targeting
Latinos
and
other
minority
groups.
To
build
trust
between communities of color and law enforcement, biases need to be surfaced and training and processes improved— including the handling of mentally ill offenders.
IMPROVE LANGUAGE SERVICES IN COURTS AND PROCEEDINGS Language
barriers
in
state
criminal
and
civil
courts
for
Spanish-
speaking Latinos impede on the opportunity for fair proceedings.
ILI
urges (1) the Indiana Supreme Court Chief Justice Loretta Rush to assess
the
language
capacity
of
Indiana
courts,
PUBLIC
examine
best
SAFETY
practices, and implement strategies that protect the fundamental rights of all individuals and (2) Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb to assess the language capacity of administrative panels, examine best practices,
and
implement
strategies
to
ensure
ADVOCACY EFFORTS
participants
understand proceedings and present their cases.
IMPROVE COMMUNITY POLICING Indigent Latino families often reside in distressed neighborhoods with higher
crime
rates.
ILI
urges
state,
county,
and
municipal
law
enforcement agencies to examine and implement proven-effective community
policing
strategies
[20]
that
build
relationships
with
residents and lower crime rates. A key component of that strategy is increased patrols to build trust. ILI recommends that law enforcement agencies recruit, train, and hire additional officers who come from Latino and other minority communities.
[21] Indy Star, IMPD
INVOLVE LATINOS IN REDISTRICTING PROCESS Latinos
must
be
at
the
proverbial
table
where
new
political
district lines are drawn, and decisions must include consideration of the Latino community’s voice in policymaking. ILI recommends
LEGISLATIVE POLICY
that
the
redistricting
opportunities creating
CIVIC
for
state
process
Latinos
and
to
local
include
represent
districts
with
a
goal
to
increase
Latino
communities
by
large
percentages
of
voting,
as
Latino residents.
PARTICIPATION Indiana civically
thrives
engaged,
development support
when
for
of
Hoosiers
participating public
practices
of public concern.
all
that
in
polices address
are
[22] Pew Research Center analysis of 2018 ACS
the and
issues
FACILITATE VOTER ENGAGEMENT Low-income working
two
Latino jobs,
voters
face
childcare,
obstacles unreliable
to
such
transportation,
and
others. ILI recommends that the General Assembly, the Secretary of
State,
and
County
election
officials
facilitating
voting
processes by ensuring more information is available in Spanish, adding a no-excuse absentee voting option, establishing early voting locations in Latino neighborhoods, and increasing the days and times of early voting.
CIVIC PARTICIPATION DIVERSIFY EXECUTIVE BRANCH STAFFING
ADVOCACY EFFORTS
Civic participation is not limited to elected positions. The Latino voice should be present in state and
local
ensuring
executive the
appropriately
positions,
public
sector
engages
and
supports the Latino community. Indiana
Latino
Institute
encourages Governor Holcomb, county
leaders,
other
elected
appoint
Latinos
mayors,
and
officials to
administrative positions.
to
senior
Only
a
dozen
members decisions Latino
in
Latino Indiana
affecting
students,
school-board are
almost
comprising
the K-12 population. [23]
making
150,000 13.2% o f
SOURCES [1] US Census: American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, 2019, https://data.census.gov/cedsci/profile?q=United%20States&g=0100000US
[2] Annie E. Casey Foundation, “What the Data Say About Race, Ethnicity and American Youth” 6/17/18, https://www.aecf.org/blog/what-the-data-sayabout-race-ethnicity-and-american-youth/
[3] Pew Research Center, “U.S. Hispanic population surpassed 60 million in 2019, but growth has slowed” 7/7/20, https://www.pewresearch.org/facttank/2020/07/07/u-s-hispanic-population-surpassed-60-million-in-2019-but-growth-has-slowed/
[4] US Census: ACS Demographic and Housing Estimates, 2019, https://data.census.gov/cedsci/table? q=ACSDP1Y2019.DP05%20Indiana&g=0400000US18&tid=ACSDP1Y2019.DP05&hidePreview=true
[5] Latin Post, "'The Crossroads of America:' How Indianapolis Has Benefited From Booming Latino Business Community" 4/28/15, https://www.latinpost.com/articles/43251/20150428/crossroads-america-indianapolis-earned-new-nickname-due-booming-local-latino.htm
[6] The Rockefeller Institute: Teacher Salary Trends, 2002-17, https://rockinst.org/issue-areas/education/teacher-salary-trends-2002-17/
[7] WSBT 22, “Operation Education: Indiana teachers last in the country for salary growth since 2002” 8/12/19, https://wsbt.com/news/local/indianasteachers-are-last-in-the-country-for-salary-growth-since-2002
[8] The Education Trust, 2021 report, https://edtrust.org/educator-diversity/#IN
[9] I Z A Institute of Labor Economics, http://ftp.iza.org/dp10630.pdf
[10] Teach Plus and the Education Trust report, 2020, https://teachplus.org/DisruptTeacherTurnover
[11] NCSL “Undocumented Student Tuition: Overview” 09/19/2019 https://www.ncsl.org/research/education/undocumented-student-tuition-overview.aspx
[12] Indiana Commission for Higher Education, 2020 Equity Report. https://www.in.gov/che/files/2020_College_Equity_Report_09_24_2020a_Full.pdf
SOURCES [13] Federal Reserve Bank, https://www.minneapolisfed.org/topic/early-childhood-development
[14] Raise it for Health, 2020, raiseitforhealthin.com
[15] Kaiser Family Foundation, Poverty Rate by Race/Ethnicity https://www.kff.org/other/state-indicator/poverty-rate-by-raceethnicity/? currentTimeframe=0&sortModel=%7B%22colId%22:%22Location%22,%22sort%22:%22asc%22%7D
[16] Indiana Commission on Hispanic and Latino Affairs, 2019 report https://www.in.gov/ichla/files/2019%20ICHLA%20Annual%20Report.pdf
[17] U.S. Department of Transportation, https://www.transportation.gov/mission/health/Expand-Public-Transportation-Systems-and-Offer-Incentives
[18] National Conference of State Legislatures, https://www.ncsl.org/research/immigration/states-offering-driver-s-licenses-to-immigrants.aspx
[19] US Department of Homeland Security, “Homeland Threat Assessment” October 2020, https://www.dhs.gov/sites/default/files/publications/2020_10_06_homeland-threat-assessment.pdf
[20] U.S. Department of Justice, https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=tp&tid=81
[21] Indy Star, “IMPD captain: 'Everyone agrees diversity is important. So why hasn't it happened yet?'” 9/27/18 https://www.indystar.com/story/opinion/columnists/suzette-hackney/2018/09/27/impd-leads-charge-toward-diversity-columnist-suzette-hackneywrites/1433649002/
[22] Pew Research Center, Mapping the 2020 Latino electorate, 2020, https://www.pewresearch.org/hispanic/interactives/mapping-the-latinoelectorate/iframe/
[23] Indiana Department of Education, 2020 data, https://inview.doe.in.gov/state/1088000000/population
Our mission is to improve health and advance education for the Indiana Latino community through statewide advocacy, research, and culturally responsive programs.
www.indianalatinoinstitute.org
Indiana Latino Institute
Indiana Latino Institute
2126 N Meridian St. #100
@IndianaLatinoInstitute
Indianapolis, IN 46202
@IndianaLatino
P 317.472.1055
Indiana Latino Institute
F 317.472.1056