Moments ago, Governor Jerry Brown recently signed Assembly Bill 19, authored by Assemblymember Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) into law.
The measure, jointly authored by Assemblymember David Chiu (D-San Francisco) and Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento) will allow community colleges to waive fees for first time, full time community college students for one year.
“Community college changed my life,” said Santiago.
“It gave me choices and opportunities and it opened doors. I know that free community college will change the lives of all Californians. To educate a community is to empower a community — I am overjoyed, plain and simple.”
AB 19 will expand the number of students eligible for a community college fee waiver – boosting enrollment and graduation rates, expanding access to financial aid while decreasing student debt. The measure will also significantly impact the state’s business climate, increasing the number of college-educated workers needed to sustain the California’s workforce.
AB 19 fact sheet is attached. Governor Jerry Brown has until October 15th to act upon Assembly Bill 19.
