Governor Jerry Brown signed Assembly Bill 130 — also known as the California DREAM Act — into law last Monday after the State Senate passed the legislation on July 14.

The law allows public institutions of higher education to allocate their financial aid reserves to undocumented students. The bill will not provide students with a path to citizenship like the federal DREAM Act. The proposed AB 131 — giving undocumented students access to state financial aid — is still pending in the State Senate.

State Senator Leland Yee, the bill’s co-author, issued a statement saying the bill’s passage marks an advancement for the state’s immigrants and economy.

“These investments prepare our young people for jobs and innovation,” Yee said in the press release. “Regardless of the debate surrounding immigration, it is time to stop punishing kids for the decisions of their parents.”

– Staff Report

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