Senate Approves Limited College Aid For Illegal Immigrant Students
SACRAMENTO (CBS/AP) — Gov. Jerry Brown will get his chance to let college students who entered the country illegally receive limited financial aid, under a bill approved by the state Senate.
Former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger repeatedly vetoed such legislation. But Brown, a Democrat, made a campaign pledge to sign bills allowing illegal immigrants to qualify for aid.
The Senate passed AB130 Thursday on a 26-11 vote. If signed into law, the bill be effective as of Jan. 1, 2012 for students attending a public college or university in California.
The bill by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo, a Los Angeles Democrat, lets students who pay in-state tuition collect privately funded college scholarships.
A different Cedillo bill would make those students eligible for state-funded financial aid, but that measure is stalled in a committee.
Cedillo has introduced similar legislation each year since 2005.
Brown spokesman Gil Duran could not immediately say if the governor will sign the bill.
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