What Do You Think? Non-legal Student Residents Now Eligible for Student Aid

The California State Senate on Wednesday approved the second half of a controversial bill that would allow students who are illegal residents/ undocumented immigrants to apply for state-funded scholarships and financial aid.

Voting 23-11, the

Senate approved AB131, also known as the California Dream Act. It is the second part of a bill previously approved, and it will soon be put before the Governor for signing.

Senator Alan Lowenthal, Belmont Shore's representative, voted for the bill. Six senators did not vote. Lowenthal could not be reached at 2:30 p.m. as he was chairing a Senate education committee hearing, an aide said. The bill needed only 21 to reach a majority and pass (there are 40 senators).

Some key points to bear in mind: Eligibility requirements demand the student applicant have attended three years of high school in the U.S. and have graduated.

As we await reaction from our local Cal State Long Beach administration on any predicted impacts, and try to learn more about the bill, we'd like to hear from you. (We expect the Ken and Bob Show are already going gangbusters on this radio topic).

Always a good link to bookmark to follow the status of state legislation: www.leginfo.ca.gov