The Assembly and the Senate of California recently approved a budget that will finance the second year of tuition in community colleges to low-income students in the state.
The budget expands a fund created by AB 19, which provides one year of free tuition at a community college as of 2018. The budget of almost $48 million dollars will allow the financing of a second year of free studies for all students enrolled for the first time full time.
"The budget we give to the governor today is a great victory for aspiring college students in California," said Assemblyman Miguel Santiago, who represents District 53 comprised of the cities of Los Angeles, Huntington Park and Vernon.
"The exorbitant cost of higher education will continue to deepen the income inequality that many Californians are experiencing today, unless we do something about it, this is our opportunity to open the doors to new opportunities for countless students, and I am grateful to my colleagues in the Senate and the Assembly to see it through. "
The budget is awaiting signature by Governor Gavin Newsom to come into force.
In addition to this budget, the California Assembly passed Bill AB 2. Another bill passed this year is AB 2, which would allow institutions to offer exemptions to the full-time study rule for some students with disabilities.
AB 2 will be presented to the Senate Education Committee in the coming weeks for consideration.
