BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2009
Page 1
Date of Hearing: April 12, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Jose Medina, Chair
AB 2009
(Lopez) - As Introduced February 16, 2016
SUBJECT: Student support services: Dream Resource Liaisons
SUMMARY: Requires the California Community Colleges (CCC) and
the California State University (CSU), and requests the
University of California (UC), to create Dream Resource Liaisons
and Centers on each campus, as specified; and, authorizes the
governing boards of the segments to accept private funds to
establish and operate the centers. Specifically, this bill:
1)Finds and declares the following intent of the Legislature:
a) It is the intent of the Legislature to increase
enrollment and graduation rates among students meeting the
requirements of AB 540 (Firebaugh), Chapter 814, Statutes
of 2001, by requiring the creation of Dream Resource
Centers at public institutions of higher education;
b) It is estimated that each year approximately 65,000
undocumented students graduate from high schools, and while
California has been a leader in enacting innovative and
bold laws to provide opportunities for undocumented youth
to attain higher education, only 20% of these students
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attend college. Many undocumented youth and their families
are unaware of recent policy changes, such as the enactment
of AB 540, the California Development, Relief, and
Education for Alien Minors Act of 2011 (DREAM Act), and the
federal Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), that
make college graduation more attainable. Currently, the
majority of college campuses do not have a centralized
location that provides specialized support services and
resources for students meeting the requirements of AB 540;
c) The creation of Dream Resource Centers would save staff
time and resources by streamlining all available financial
aid and academic opportunities for students meeting the
requirements of AB 540. These Dream Resource Centers would
seek to empower and create a safe and welcoming environment
for those students. These centers would increase
enrollment, transfer, and graduation rates among this
population; and,
d) A number of college campuses have acknowledged the needs
and challenges of these students and have created Dream
Resources Centers. These include: the University of
California, Los Angeles; the University of California,
Davis; the California State University, Los Angeles; the
California State University, Fullerton; and the California
State University, Northridge. These centers provide, among
other things, informational workshops, legal clinics,
information on programs available to undocumented
immigrants, and peer mentoring and support services to
increase awareness of existing programs and available
resources, enhance professional development, and increase
employment opportunities.
2)Encourages the governing board of a school district or county
office of education that maintains any of grades 9 to 12,
inclusive, to have a Dream Resource Liaison, as specified, at
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each of their respective campuses that includes said grades.
3)Requires the CCC and the CSU, and requests the UC, commencing
with the 2017-18 academic year, to create Dream Resource
Centers on each campus to assist students meeting
requirements, as set forth the Education Code (EC) Section
68130.5 by streamlining access to all available financial aid
and academic opportunities for those students.
4)Requires each campus of the CCC and CSU, and requests the UC,
to ensure that it has a staff person designated as a Dream
Resources Liaison who is knowledgeable in available financial
aid, services, and academic opportunities for all students
meeting the requirements pursuant to Education Code (EC)
Section 68130.5, including undocumented students.
5)Encourages each campus of the CCC, CSU, and UC, to place the
Dream Resources Liaison in the campus' extended opportunity
programs and services office or the educational opportunity
programs office, respectively, or the financial aid office.
6)Encourages the CCC, CSU, and UC to establish Dream Resource
Centers on each of their respective campuses.
7)Specifies that the Dream Resources Centers may offer support
services including, but not necessarily limited to: a) state
and institutional financial aid assistance; b) academic
counseling; c) peer support services; d) psychological
counseling; e) referral services; and, f) legal services.
8)Specifies that this measure shall not be construed as
mandating the construction of new or separate space for Dream
Resource Centers.
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9)Specifies that Dream Resource Centers may be housed within
existing student service or academic centers; and, the space
in which a Dream Resource Liaison is located may be deemed a
Dream Resource Center.
10)Authorizes the CCC Board of Governors, the CSU Trustees, and
the UC Regents to seek and accept on behalf of the state any
gift, bequest, devise, or donation whenever the gift and terms
and conditions thereof will aid in the creation and operation
of Dream Resource Centers for their respective systems.
EXISTING LAW:
1)Qualifies for lower resident fee/tuition payments at the CCC,
CSU, and UC, a student who attended high school in California
for three (or equivalency) or more years, graduated (or
equivalency) from a California high school, enrolled at an
accredited institution of higher education in California not
earlier than the fall semester or quarter of 2001-02, and
files an affidavit with the institution of higher education
stating that the student has filed an application to legalize
his or her immigration status or will file an application as
soon as he or she is eligible. These students are often
referred to as "AB 540 students" (EC Section 68130.5).
2)Establishes the California DREAM Act to provide state,
including the Cal Grant Program and the CCC Board of Governors
Fee Waiver, and institutional financial aid to students who
qualify the aforementioned exemption from non-resident
tuition, students must apply by March 2 prior to the academic
year; Dream Act recipients receive Cal Grant Entitlement
awards, but are not eligible for Competitive Cal Grant awards
unless funding remains available after eligible California
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students have received awards. According to CSAC, in 2014-15,
38,473 students completed a Dream Act Application, 8,195
awards were offered, and 4,206 awards paid (EC Section
69508.5).
3)Establishes the California DREAM Loan Program intended to
provide low-interest loans to Dream Act students who are
accessing the Cal Grant program and attending UC and CSU.
These students are not eligible for federal student loans,
making it difficult for some to cover the total costs of
college. The law requires the state and UC and CSU to split
the costs of launching the program. The state would need to
provide about $4.7 million General Fund to begin the program.
The Governor signed SB 1210 (Lara), Chapter 754, Statutes of
2014, but does not provide funding in the 2015-16 Budget for
the program (EC Sections 70030-70039).
FEDERAL LAW: On June 15, 2012, the Secretary of Homeland
Security, under the direction of President Obama, announced the
DACA policy, providing certain people who came to the United
States as children and meet several guidelines authority to
request consideration of deferred action for a period of two
years, subject to renewal. They are also eligible for work
authorization. Deferred action is a use of prosecutorial
discretion to defer removal action against an individual for a
certain period of time. Deferred action does not provide lawful
status.
Individuals may request consideration of DACA if they meet the
following requirements:
a) Were under the age of 31 as of June 15, 2012;
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b) Came to the United States before their 16th birthday;
c) Have continuously resided in the United States since
June 15, 2007, up to the present time;
d) Were physically present in the United States on June 15,
2012, and at the time of making the request for
consideration of deferred action;
e) Had no lawful status on June 15, 2012, meaning never had
a lawful immigration status on or before June 15, 2012, or
any lawful immigration status or parole obtained prior to
June 15, 2012, that had expired as of June 15, 2012;
f) Currently in school, have graduated or obtained a
certificate of completion from high school, have obtained a
General Educational Development certificate, or are an
honorably discharged veteran of the Coast Guard or Armed
Forces of the United States; and,
g) Have not been convicted of a felony, a significant
misdemeanor, three or more other misdemeanors, and do not
otherwise pose a threat to national security or public
safety.
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: Need for this measure. According to the author, in a
recent study conducted by the UndocuScholars Project,
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undocumented students expressed concerns and frustrations for
the lack of knowledge that college faculty, staff, and
administrators have regarding policies and services available
for the undocumented students. The author contends that,
"Currently, there is no law that ensures that California public
colleges and universities give adequate support to the
undocumented student populations at their respective campuses to
obtain their educational goals."
This measure seeks to address the issue faced by undocumented
collegiate students by creating a centralized space that said
students will be able to utilize in order to access necessary
resources and opportunities to ensure they succeed, regardless
of their immigration status.
Background. According to information provided by the author, it
is estimated that each year approximately 65,000 undocumented
students graduate from high schools in the United States. Since
the passage of AB 540 (Firebaugh) Chapter 814, Statutes of 2001,
California Dream Act, DACA, and other pieces of legislation,
college affordability has become more attainable for
undocumented students in the state.
The University of California at Los Angeles created the first
resource center to serve undocumented students. Since that
time, several other campuses of the UC and CSU have created
resource centers.
Previous legislation. AB 1366 (Lopez) of 2015, which is
currently on the Senate Floor Inactive File, is similar in
nature to this measure.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
AB 2009
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Support
ALIANZA
AltaMed Health Services Corporation
Associated Students of Gavilan College
Associated Students of University of California, Irvine
Berkeley City College Undocumented Students Task Force
California Immigrant Policy Center
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation
California State Student Association
Central American Resource Center-Los Angeles
Channel Islands Dreamers at California State University, Channel
Islands
Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles
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College of the Desert
D.E.P.I.E. (Student Demand for Equality in Education)
Diversity Resilience Education Access Movement
Dream Resource Center Coalition
Higher Education Opportunities through Empowerment for
Undocumented Students
Hispanic Association of Colleges & Universities
Holman United Methodist Church
Improving Dreams, Equity, Access & Success at San Francisco
State University
L.E.A.D. at Sacramento State
Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund
Rising Immigrant Scholars through Education
Scholars Promoting Education Awareness and Knowledge
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Services, Immigrant Rights and Education Network
Students Advocating Law and Education
Student Senate for California Community Colleges
Supporting Academic Success for Immigrant Students Club, Gavilan
College
Undocumented Anteaters
Ventura College Dreamers
V.O.I.C.E.S
West Park Charter Academy
3 Individuals
Opposition
None on file.
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Analysis Prepared by:Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960