BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Senator Carol Liu, Chair
2015 - 2016 Regular
Bill No: SB 247
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|Author: |Lara |
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|Version: |February 18, 2015 Hearing Date: |
| | March 25, 2015 |
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|Urgency: |No |Fiscal: |Yes |
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|Consultant:|Olgalilia Ramirez |
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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
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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.
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