Legislation that would extend more scholarship opportunities to college students who are undocumented immigrants was approved by the state Senate today.
Assembly Bill 130, one of two "Dream Act" bills under consideration in the Legislature this year, would allow undocumented immigrants who currently qualify for in-state tuition to apply for scholarships funded with private donations. The bill, by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, was approved by the Senate on a 26-11 vote.
Sen. Anthony Cannella, R-Ceres, was the only Republican to vote in favor of the bill.
The group of students targeted by the bill, which is not limited to undocumented immigrants, represents a small segment of the overall student population at California colleges and universities.
The second "Dream Act" measure, Assembly Bill 131, would make undocumented immigrant students eligible for publicly funded financial aid, including Cal Grants. It has yet to come up for a full floor vote in the upper house.
The measure approved today will now go to Gov. Jerry Brown, who is expected to sign the bill into law. He voiced support for the proposal during his gubernatorial campaign, saying that he would have signed a version of the state "Dream Act" vetoed by former Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
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PHOTO CREDIT: Students hold signs during a May press conference at the state Capitol in Sacramento after Assembly members passed the "Dream Act" bill by Assemblyman Gilbert Cedillo, D-Los Angeles. Hector Amezcua / Sacramento Bee
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