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In the Fall of 2011, California Governor Jerry Brown signed two bills (AB 130 and AB 131) packaged as the California Dream Act which allow qualifying AB 540 status holders to access state and non-state resourced funds to finance their college or university education. Summary AB 130 allows eligible AB 540 students to apply for and receive scholarships at California public colleges and universities derived from non-state funds. This bill went into effect on January 1, 2012. AB 131 allows eligible AB 540 student to apply for and receive financial aid at California public colleges and universities partially derived from state funds. These funds include CalGrants and Community College Board of Governors Fee Waivers. This bill went into effect January 1, 2013. Background AB 540, a California law passed in 2001, allows students to pay in-state tuition rates if they meet all of the following requirements: 1) Attended a California high school for 3 or more years. 2) Graduated from a California high school with a diploma or attained the equivalent (GED). 3) After accepted to a California public university or college, if undocumented, the student must file an affidavit with the institution stating their eligibility under AB 540 and intention of applying for a lawful immigration status as soon as they qualify. AB 540 does not grant financial aid for its recipients. AB 130 What does AB 130 do for undocumented students? AB 130 gives California public colleges and universities the opportunity to allow undocumented students to apply and compete for scholarship awards. These include scholarships funded through private donors, alumni contributions or individual departmental efforts.

Dream Resource Center

Last Edited: February, 2014

How can an undocumented student access funds made available by AB 130? Students must apply and compete for available awards as outlined by their respective college or university. AB 131 What does AB 131 do for undocumented students? In the past, the State of California did not administer a financial aid program that included undocumented students. This law now allows undocumented students who qualify for AB 540 to participate in state funded financial aid programs: AB 131 calls for Californias community colleges to allow students to apply for the Board of Governors Fee Waivers, which waive the educational fees of qualifying lowincome students. For more information, visit secure.cccapply.org/bog_waiver. AB 131 also calls for the establishment of procedures and forms that would enable current AB 540 status holders to apply for, and participate in, other student aid programs administered by Californias public colleges and universities such as institutional aid derived from tuition revenue. Lastly, AB 131 calls for the State of California to allow AB-540 status holders to participate in any state-administered financial aid programs such as CalGrants. However, funds for the Competitive Cal Grants will not be made available to undocumented students unless funding remains available after their California resident counterparts have received theirs. Please see calgrants.org for information on the different types of Cal Grants that California administers. How can an undocumented student access funds made available by AB 131? For institutional-based awards, students must apply and compete for available awards as outlined by their respective institutions. For Cal Grants or other state funded assistance, the California Student Aid Commission developed the following system for applying to aid, given that undocumented students cannot apply for FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) in order to determine their income level and need. Please visit dream.csac.ca.gov.

Dream Resource Center

Last Edited: February, 2014