(Cupventi.com) – On Friday, California Governor Gavin Newsom approved a legislation that permits certain students residing in Mexico near the border to receive in-state tuition at specific community colleges, as confirmed by his administration’s official website.
This legislative development was highlighted in a news release titled “legislative update,” where it was noted that Governor Gavin Newsom concluded his actions for the 2023 legislative season that day, emphasizing that all pending matters had been addressed.
The legislation, introduced by Assemblymember David Alvarez from San Diego, specifically targets low-income students residing within a 45-minute proximity to the California border. Alvarez explained that the aim is to assist students, potentially U.S. citizens, who currently reside in the Baja region due to the high cost of living in California, making it challenging for their families to afford residing within the state.
This California bill drew inspiration from a long-standing Texas law that permits students living near the Texas border to waive nonresident tuition fees. An example of the impact of such legislation was shared by Agustin Guzman, a student attending Texas A&M International University, who resides in Nuevo Laredo, Mexico, but crosses the border daily to pursue a college education.
Under the California law, around 150 students from eight designated community colleges, all located in San Diego and the Imperial Valley, will benefit from a “nonresident fee exemption.”
Alvarez highlighted that California, while often seen as a leader in various domains, is catching up to Texas in this particular area. Texas had already enacted a similar law years ago and has successfully graduated over 70,000 students through this program.
The California pilot program is scheduled to commence next year and will remain in effect until 2029. Despite agreeing with the bill’s objectives, State Sen. Roger Niello, representing Fair Oaks and belonging to the Republican party, was among the five Republicans who opposed the legislation due to concerns about its fiscal implications.