Higher Ed Dream Act (One of Them) Signed by Governor

Gov. Brown signed AB 130 by Assemblymember Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles) – Student financial aid: eligibility: California Dream Act of 2011. The new law allows illegal alien children who have been raised in California to receive financial aid in public higher education institutions (UC, CSU, community colleges). However, the aid to which the law refers is private scholarship money.

The issue of such aid has arisen in the controversy over tuition increases at UC. Although the university provides assistance to lower-income students, it cannot do so with public monies including tuition money to illegal alien students. Protests over UC tuition increases have noted that these students are not protected by UC tuition assistance programs and so pay whatever increases occur.

A more far-reaching bill is still in the hopper that would allow Cal Grants and other public aid to go to such students. Brown indicated he would likely sign that bill when it arrives.

A bill signing ceremony can be found at:

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