Governor Signs Dream Act

Jerry Brown signs California Dream Act

10-8-11Capitol Alert

Gov. Jerry Brown today signed legislation allowing undocumented immigrant college students to receive public financial aid, marking California’s relatively liberal ground in a bitter row over immigration nationwide. The California Dream Act allows access to public financial aid, including Cal Grants, for undocumented students who came to the country before turning 16 and attended California high schools. Those students already are eligible for in-state tuition, and Brown in July signed a companion measure affording them access to private financial aid…

Brown, a Democrat, supported the act during last year’s gubernatorial campaign, and his signature was all but certain. He had negotiated amendments to the bill, Assembly Bill 131, to reduce costs, excluding graduates of technical and adult schools and delaying implementation until January 2013.

…The program’s expansion is expected to cost the state $23 million to $40 million annually.

…Republican Assemblyman Tim Donnelly said the legislation would encourage illegal immigration and force students who are in the country legally to compete with undocumented immigrants for public resources… Donnelly, of Twin Peaks, is setting up a website, “STOP the Nightmare Act,” and pledged to launch a referendum campaign.

Full article at: http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/10/dream-act-1.html

The governor’s signing statement is at http://www.gov.ca.gov/news.php?id=17268

Update: There may be a referendum petition filed to nullify the new law. As in the case of initiatives, however, there is a big difference between filing and actually having the money to pay professional signature gatherers and then get voters to go along. On the referendum filing, see http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2011/10/2011-a-record-year-for-referendum-drives.html