California Gov. Gavin Newsom has signed two new laws that aim to improve access to education and support healthcare workers in the state. The first is a pilot program that will allow low-income Mexican students living near the US border to attend participating community colleges in California at in-state tuition rates. The second is a new minimum wage increase for healthcare workers in the state.
Under the new legislation, low-income Mexican residents who live within 45 miles of the California-Mexico border and want to attend a participating community college will be eligible for in-state tuition rates. This will help make education more accessible for these students, who may have previously struggled to afford the cost of attending a community college in California. The program is set to run from 2020 to 2029 and will require participants to be US or Mexican citizens with a required visa.
According to California State Assemblymember David Alvarez, who authored the proposal, there are around 7,000 students who cross the California-Mexico border each day. Many of these students split their time between the two countries, making it difficult for them to establish California residency. This pilot program aims to address this issue by providing these students with more affordable education options.
The second law signed by Newsom, which will gradually raise the minimum wage for healthcare workers to $25 per hour over the next decade, will also have a significant impact on low-income workers in the state. The legislation received pushback from Newsom’s administration due to concerns about how it would impact the state’s budget. However, the governor ultimately decided to sign the bill, stating that it aligns with his belief that healthcare workers deserve fair compensation for their hard work.
Mark Sanchez, president of the Southwestern College in Chula Vista, which is located about seven miles from the Mexico border, expressed his support for the pilot program for Mexican students. He emphasized the importance of keeping talented individuals in California, and pointed out that without the program, the state risks losing valuable talent to other states.
The new legislation will require community college boards to submit a report to lawmakers by 2028, which will detail the attendance rates and demographics of students involved in the program. This will allow lawmakers to gather data and assess the success and impact of the pilot program.
In addition to these two laws, Newsom has previously signed a minimum wage increase for fast food workers, which will raise their minimum pay to $20 per hour. The new minimum wage for healthcare workers and the pilot program for low-income Mexican students demonstrate the state’s commitment to improving access to education and supporting workers in the healthcare industry.
