California Bill Allows College Aid For Illegal Students

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- The state Assembly has approved a bill that would allow college students who are illegal immigrants to apply for private scholarships.

   Lawmakers on Thursday passed AB130, by Democratic Assemblyman Gil Cedillo of Los Angeles, on a 51-21 party-line vote.

   The bill affects students who are in the country illegally but are paying in-state tuition at California colleges and universities. It allows them to collect scholarships not funded by public dollars.

   Another bill by Cedillo, still in committee, would make those students eligible for state-funded financial aid. Cedillo called his bill The California Dream Act, but unlike the federal Dream Act legislation it does not include a path to citizenship.

   He said students should not be punished because their parents brought them into the country illegally. AB130 heads to the Senate.

   (Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)