Governor Signs Budget That Includes Many Latino Legislative Caucus Budget Priorities

SACRAMENTO – Assemblymember Luis Alejo (D-Salinas), Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, announced today the budget Governor Jerry Brown just signed included several items that were priorities of the Caucus.

“The 22 members of the California Latino Legislative Caucus appreciate that Governor Brown shared many of the Caucus’ priorities,” Alejo said. “These are priorities that will help all Californians in one way or another, not just Latinos.”

One California. A total of $30 million to assist the 2.44 million Californians eligible to become naturalized citizens and the 1.5 million residents eligible for deportation relief through the One California program administered by the state Department of Social Services.

Medical Interpreters. An allocation of $3 million for a pilot program to provide professional interpreters for patients whose primary language is not English.

Equal Access Fund. An additional one-time allocation of $5 million, for a total of $15 million, to provide legal services to low-income California residents.

Higher Education, Student Success. A total of $2.4 million to expand two Community College student success programs (Mesa and the Puente Project).

CSU. An ongoing allocation of $12.5 million to increase enrollment at California State University by an additional 5,194 students. One-time $35 million investment to improve graduation outcomes.

Higher Education Diversity. One-time allocation of $2 million each to CSU, the University of California and California Community Colleges to support equal employment opportunity activities and faculty diversity reporting.

Major Investments in K-12 Education. A total of $200 million in one-time funding to better prepare high school students for admission to college, as proposed by Senate President pro Tem Kevin de León. This funding will incentivize school districts to provide access to more rigorous coursework, provide K-12 teacher development in college readiness subjects and grant funding to help low-income students qualify for college.

“More Latinos are entering higher education than ever before and the support of higher education is a top priority,” said Assemblymember Jose Medina (D-Riverside), a member of the Latino Caucus and chairperson of the Assembly Committee on Higher Education. “The California College Promise will receive funding that is needed to help support community college students. Additionally, the PUENTE program will receive critical funding. PUENTE helps improve student success and has encouraged thousands of underrepresented students to pursue higher education.

“The Latino Caucus has led meetings to discuss the need for increased faculty diversity and we are grateful for the funding secured to raise awareness of the issue. Higher education plays an integral role in helping students support themselves and their families.” 

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Contact: Andrew Bird / Andrew.Bird@asm.ca.gov / (916) 319-2030