BILL ANALYSIS Ó SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION Senator Carol Liu, Chair 2015 - 2016 Regular Bill No: SB 247 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Author: |Lara | |-----------+-----------------------------------------------------| |Version: |February 18, 2015 Hearing Date: | | | March 25, 2015 | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes | ----------------------------------------------------------------- ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Consultant:|Olgalilia Ramirez | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Subject: Dream Centers: educational support services SUMMARY This bill authorizes the governing board of a school district or county office of education that maintain grades 9-12, the governing board of a California Community College (CCC) district, and the trustees of the California State University (CSU) and encourages the Regents of the University of California (UC) to establish on-campus Dream Centers for the purposes of providing educational support services applicable to undocumented students. BACKGROUND Existing law provides that AB 540 students are eligible to apply for, and participate in; any student financial aid program administered by the State of California to the full extent permitted by federal law and requires the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) to establish procedures and forms for this purpose. To comply with this provision the CSAC developed the Dream Application. (EC 69508.5) ANALYSIS This bill authorizes the governing bodies of school districts, county offices of education, CCC districts and the CSU, and encourages the UC to establish on-campus Dream centers for the purposes of providing information to SB 247 (Lara) Page 2 of ? undocumented students about educational support services which may include the Dream Application established by the CSAC. STAFF COMMENTS 1. Need for the bill: This bill only authorizes and encourages campuses to establish Dream centers and its ultimate effect is unclear. According to the author, the California legislature has adopted several polices to support undocumented students seeking postsecondary education. Most notably, AB 540 granted these students in state-tuition if they meet specified criteria, AB 130 (California Dream Act), and AB 131 allowed students to access state and institutional financial aid. Additionally the federal program known as the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) enables students to participate in federal work study programs. Despite these policies, there is anecdotal evidence of community groups challenging the need and legality of support services for undocumented students in various school districts and colleges around the state. This bill seeks to provide clarification by explicitly authorizing the creation of dream centers and other support services for undocumented students. 2. What currently exists? Each University of California (UC) campus designates a point of contact specifically for providing information to undocumented students. All but three campuses have physical space designates for this purpose. Among the twenty-three campuses at the California State University (CSU), the method of delivering information varies. Some campuses have a designated location but most provide information through existing student support programs. It is unclear if any high school or community college campus has an established location similar to a Dream center as described by the bill. In order to clarify the author's intent to ensure undocumented students' needs are met staff recommends the bill be amended as follows: 11900. The governing board of each school district or county office of education that maintains any of grades SB 247 (Lara) Page 3 of ? 9 to 12, inclusive, the governing board of each community college district, and the Trustees of the California State University may establish, and the Regents of the University of California are encouraged to establish undocumented student support services to provide but not limited to, state and institutional financial aid assistance, academic counseling, referral services and on-campus Dream Centers., to provide information to undocumented pupils and students about educational support services, including, but not limited to, the financial aid application established by the Student Aid Commission pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 69508.5, known as the Dream Act Application.3. Related and prior legislation. AB 1366 (Lopez, 2015) requires the California Community Colleges and the California State University and requests the University of California to establish on-campus Dream resource centers. SUPPORT California Communities United California Immigrant Policy Center Coalition of Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA) Mexican American Legal Defense and Education Fund (MALDEF) Young Invincibles OPPOSITION None received. -- END --