BILL REQ. #:  Z-0308.1 

Read first time 01/10/11.   Referred to Committee on Judiciary.

     AN ACT Relating to nonlegal immigration-related services; amending RCW 19.154.010, 19.154.020, 19.154.060, 19.154.090, and 19.154.900; adding a new section to chapter 19.154 RCW; repealing RCW 19.154.030, 19.154.040, 19.154.050, 19.154.070, 19.154.080, and 19.154.902; and prescribing penalties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

Sec. 1   RCW 19.154.010 and 1989 c 117 s 1 are each amended to read as follows:
     The legislature finds and declares that the practice by nonlawyers of assisting persons ((regarding immigration matters)) in obtaining benefits under the immigration laws of the United States substantially affects the public interest. The practice((s)) of ((immigration assistants have a significant impact on the residents of the state of Washington)) nonlawyers providing immigration-related services for compensation may impact the ability of their customers to reside and work within the United States and to establish and maintain stable families and business relationships. The legislature further finds and declares that the previous scheme for regulating the behavior of nonlawyers who provide immigration-related services is inadequate to address the level of unfair and deceptive practices that exist in the marketplace and often contributes to the unauthorized practice of law. It is the intent of the legislature, through this act, to ((establish rules of practice and conduct for immigration assistants to promote honesty and fair dealing with residents and to preserve public confidence)) end the practice of nonlawyers providing immigration services that constitute the practice of law.

Sec. 2   RCW 19.154.020 and 1989 c 117 s 2 are each amended to read as follows:
     Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter.
     (1) (("Immigration assistant" means every person who, for compensation or the expectation of compensation, gives nonlegal assistance on an immigration matter. That assistance is limited to:
     (a) Transcribing responses to a government agency form selected by the customer which is related to an immigration matter, but does not include advising a person as to his or her answers on those forms;
     (b) Translating a person's answer to questions posed on those forms;
     (c) Securing for a person supporting documents currently in existence, such as birth and marriage certificates, which may be needed to submit with those forms;
     (d) Making referrals to attorneys who could undertake legal representation for a person in an immigration matter.
     (2))) "Immigration matter" means any proceeding, filing, or action affecting the nonimmigrant, immigrant, or citizenship status of any person ((which arises)) arising under immigration and naturalization law, executive order, or presidential proclamation, or ((which arises under)) pursuant to any action of the United States citizenship and immigration ((and naturalization)) services, the United States department of labor, ((or)) the United States department of state, the United States department of justice, the United States department of homeland security, the board of immigration appeals, or any other entity or agency having jurisdiction over immigration law.
     (((3))) (2) "Compensation" means money, property, or anything else of value.
     (3) "Practice of law" means the application of legal principles and judgment with regard to the circumstances or objectives of another entity or person that requires the knowledge and skill of a person trained in the law. This includes, but is not limited to:
     (a) Giving advice or counsel to others as to their legal rights or the legal rights or responsibilities of others for fees or other consideration;
     (b) Selecting, drafting, or completion of legal documents which affect the legal rights of an entity or person;
     (c) Representation of another entity or person in a court, or in a formal proceeding or other formal dispute resolution process or in an administrative adjudicative proceeding in which legal pleadings are filed or a record review is established as the basis for judicial review;
     (d) Negotiation of legal rights or responsibilities on behalf of another entity or person; and
     (e) Any other acts that constitute the practice of law as determined by the supreme court and other courts of this state, whether by rule or decision.

Sec. 3   RCW 19.154.060 and 1989 c 117 s 6 are each amended to read as follows:
     ((Immigration assistants shall offer or provide only nonlegal assistance in an immigration matter as defined in RCW 19.154.020.)) (1) Persons, other than those licensed to practice law in this state or otherwise permitted to practice law or provide legal or other immigration-related services under federal law in an immigration matter, are prohibited from engaging in the practice of law in an immigration matter for compensation.
     (2) Persons, other than those licensed to practice law in this state or otherwise permitted to practice law or provide legal or other immigration-related services under federal law in an immigration matter, are prohibited from engaging in the following acts or practices, for compensation:
     (a) Selecting or assisting another in selecting, or advising another as to his or her answers on, a government agency form or document in an immigration matter;
     (b) Selecting or assisting another in selecting, or advising another in selecting, a benefit, visa, or program to apply for in an immigration matter;
     (c) Soliciting to prepare documents for, or otherwise representing the interests of, another in a judicial or administrative proceeding in an immigration matter;
     (d) Explaining, advising, or otherwise interpreting the meaning or intent of a question on a government agency form in an immigration matter;
     (e) Charging a fee for obtaining or providing a paper or electronic copy of a government agency form in an immigration matter;
     (f) Charging a fee for referring another to an attorney licensed to practice law;
     (g) Drafting, writing, or otherwise creating documents to support or establish a benefit for another in an immigration matter.
     (3) Persons, other than those licensed to practice law in this state or otherwise permitted to practice law or provide legal or other immigration-related services under federal law in an immigration matter, are prohibited from engaging in the following acts or practices, regardless of whether compensation is sought:
     (a) Representing, either orally or in any document, letterhead, advertisement, stationery, business card, web site, or other comparable written material, that he or she is a lawyer, notario publico, notario, immigration assistant, immigration consultant, immigration specialist, or using any other designation or title, in any language, that conveys or implies that he or she possesses professional legal skills in the area of immigration law;
     (b) Representing, in any language, either orally or in any document, letterhead, advertisement, stationery, business card, web site, or other comparable written material, that he or she can or is willing to provide services in an immigration matter, if such services would constitute the practice of law.
     (4) In addition to complying with the prohibitions of subsections (1) through (3) of this section, persons licensed as a notary public under chapter 42.44 RCW who are not licensed to practice law in this state shall not use the term notario publico, notario, or any other term, in any language, that conveys or implies that he or she possesses professional skills in the areas of immigration law, when advertising notary public services in the conduct of their business. A violation of any provision of this chapter by a person licensed as a notary public under chapter 42.44 RCW shall constitute unprofessional conduct under the uniform regulation of business and professions act, chapter 18.235 RCW.

Sec. 4   RCW 19.154.090 and 1989 c 117 s 9 are each amended to read as follows:
     (1) The legislature finds and declares that any violation of this chapter substantially affects the public interest and is an unfair and deceptive act or practice and unfair method of competition in the conduct of trade or commerce as set forth in RCW 19.86.020.
     (2) In addition to all remedies available in chapter 19.86 RCW, a person injured by a violation of this chapter may bring a civil action to recover the actual damages proximately caused by a violation of this chapter, or one thousand dollars, whichever is greater.

Sec. 5   RCW 19.154.900 and 1989 c 117 s 11 are each amended to read as follows:
     This chapter shall be known and cited as the "immigration ((assistant practices)) services fraud prevention act."

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 6   A new section is added to chapter 19.154 RCW to read as follows:
     Nothing in this chapter shall apply to or regulate any business to the extent such regulation is prohibited or preempted by federal law.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 7   The following acts or parts of acts are each repealed:
     (1) RCW 19.154.030 (Exemptions) and 1989 c 117 s 3;
     (2) RCW 19.154.040 (Registration required) and 1989 c 117 s 4;
     (3) RCW 19.154.050 (Change of address) and 1989 c 117 s 5;
     (4) RCW 19.154.070 (Written contract -- Requirements -- Right to rescind) and 1989 c 117 s 7;
     (5) RCW 19.154.080 (Prohibited activities) and 1989 c 117 s 8; and
     (6) RCW 19.154.902 (Effective date -- 1989 c 117) and 1989 c 117 s 15.