HOPE 2019 Legislative Priorities
HOPE is committed to ensuring political and economic parity for Latinas across the State of California. That's why our 2019 Legislative Priorities are in the areas of Health, Education, and Economic Equity. Read below to learn more about the Bills we support.
Health
AB 1063 (Petrie-Norris) Healthcare coverage: waivers
Status: Senate - Third Reading
HOPE Position: Support
This bill would require legislative approval for section 1113 waiver requests. This bill would prevent waivers that reduce eligibility for Covered CA plans or lessen the affordability and scope plans.
HIGHER Education
AB 1314 (Medina & McCarty) Cal Grant Reform Act
Status: Senate Education
HOPE Position: Actively Support - Advocated for at Latina Action Day
This bill will reform the Cal Grant program through four major initiatives: (1) Consolidate all three Cal Grant Awards and the existing Middle Class Scholarship into one Cal Grant Award; (2) Remove age limits, out of high school time, GPA, and AB 540 status as a barrier to accessing a Cal Grant Award; (3) Include Summer Cal Grant Plus.
AB 595 (Medina) Undocumented Student Apprenticeship & Internship Programs
Status: Governor's Desk
HOPE Position: Support
The bill would create a path to allow undocumented students to participate in apprenticeship and internship training programs with ITIN in lieu of a social security number, so that students do not have to enroll in DACA.
AB 1307 (Rubio) College Opportunity Act – Cal Grant Expansion Program
Status: Senate Appropriations
HOPE Position: Support
AB 1307 creates a Cal Grant award formula for students attending private, nonprofit colleges and universities -- replacing the arbitrary manner in which the maximum award is currently set each year with an equitable and predictable award level for students and their families as they plan for college.
AB 1645 (Rubio) DREAM Resource Liaisons
Status: Senate Appropriations
HOPE Position: Support
This bill will require the California State University, University of California, and Community Colleges to have a designated Dreamer Resource Liaison staffer on campus to provide undocumented students with adequate education support, is knowledgeable of state funded immigration legal services, and on campus services needed to navigate the higher education system.
SB 291 (Leyva) California Community College Student Financial Aid Program
Status: Assembly Higher Education
HOPE Position: Support
This bill would establish the California Community College Student Financial Aid Program, to provide need-based grant awards to eligible community college students who attend a California community college.
AB 1620 (Santiago) Immigrant Student Access to Higher Education
Status: Assembly Appropriations - Held Under Submission
HOPE Position: Support
This bill would increase access to higher education for undocumented students by modernizing AB 540 eligibility through the following items: (1) Reducing the total attendance requirement from three years to two years; (2) Adding attendance at all California schools toward establishing total attendance; (3) Removing the two-year limit on counting community college attendance for establishing attendance eligibility.
AB 541 (Gabriel) Cal Grant Eligibility
Status: Assembly Higher Education
HOPE Position: Watch
This bill would repeal the limitation on those students’ eligibility for Competitive Cal Grant A and B Awards. The bill would also express the intent of the Legislature that all forms of state-based aid in California be made equally available to these students who are exempt from paying nonresident tuition and to all other students who qualify for state-based aid in this state.
CIVIC & Economic Equity
AB 1666 (Reyes) 2020 Census Providing Information at Schools
Status: Senate - Third Reading
HOPE Position: Support
This bill would require the CA Complete Count to partner with participating local educational agencies to make information about the 2020 federal census available to students and their parents/guardians at school sites.
AB 1259 (Rivas, Cervantes, Garcia) California New Markets Tax Credit
Status: Assembly Appropriations - Held Under Submission
HOPE Position: Watch
This bill would allow a California New Markets Tax Credit under the Personal Income Tax Law and the Corporation Tax Law in a specified amount for investments in low-income communities.