California Assemblyman Gil Cedillo on Tuesday introduced two bills in the lower house that would provide scholarships and financial aid to undocumented students who wish to attend college in this state.
Cedillo introduced a similar proposal in 2006, when he was a state senator. Although the initiative passed the California legislature, former Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger vetoed it three times, arguing that it would cost the state too much money.
This time, Cedillo introduced the proposal - called the California DREAM Act - as two bills. AB 130 proposes that undocumented students could receive financial aid from private funds administered by public institutions, which Cedillo said "will not cost the state a dime. And AB 131 would allow undocumented students, if they are California residents, to apply for Cal Grants, a state program that offers low-income youth up to $$4,370 per year if they enroll in the California State University and up to $$11,124 per year at the University of California.
Cedillo hopes to have better luck this go-round with his bills, now that the new Governor Jerry Brown, who during his political campaign expressed his support for the California DREAM Act, has taken office.
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