The second half of the California DREAM Act — which would allow undocumented students access to state financial aid — passed the Senate today by a vote of 22 to 11.

AB 131, authored by Assemblymember Gil Cedillo, D-Los Angeles, will go back to the Assembly for a concurrence vote, the last hurdle before the bill could land on Gov. Jerry Brown’s desk.

The passage of the bill — which would give undocumented students access to state financial aid programs such as Cal Grants — comes a little over a month after the first part of the state’s DREAM act was signed into law by Brown. That bill authorized public higher education institutions to give financial aid to undocumented students from their own aid reserves.

The vote went along party lines.

Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, supported the bill on the Senate floor, saying that having more educated, tax-paying professionals would only help the state’s economy.
“(Undocumented students) should not have their future jeopardized by their illegal status,” he said.

Doug LaMalfa, R-Butte, opposed the bill on the Senate floor, saying that the state should focus on taking care of its citizens during the current financial crisis isntead of giving aid undocumented students.

Jordan Bach-Lombardo is the university news editor.

http://www.dailycal.org/2011/08/31/s...s-senate-vote/

Congrats california dreamers!