Latino Caucus Chair Statement on Governor Brown's Signing Seven Bills To Aid Immigrant Community

SACRAMENTO – Following in the wake of Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr.'s signing of AB 60 which would grant undocumented immigrants a driver's license, today Governor Brown signed seven additional bills that will help the undocumented individuals and students living in this state pursue their higher education and professional careers . Senator Ricardo Lara (D–Huntington Park/ Long Beach), Chair of the California Latino Legislative Caucus, released the following statement:

"Continuing the momentum of the last few days, California is once again leading the nation and showing our support for all of the hardworking men and women who make our state stronger, and who are integral to our state, regardless of citizenship status.

Governor Jerry Brown, the Latino Caucus applauds your leadership. Congratulations to all of the community members and advocates who worked tirelessly to make this day possible. Today is a good day to be a Californian."

The Governor signed the following bills today:

• AB 4 by Assemblymember Tom Ammiano (D-San Francisco) – Prohibits a law enforcement official from detaining an individual on the basis of a United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) hold after that individual becomes eligible for release from custody, unless specified conditions are met.

• AB 35 by Assemblymember Roger Hernández (D-West Covina) – Provides that immigration consultants, attorneys, notaries public, and organizations accredited by the United States Board of Immigration Appeals are the only individuals authorized to charge a fee for providing services associated with filing an application under the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's deferred action program.

• AB 524 by Assemblymember Kevin Mullin (D-South San Francisco) – Provides that a threat to report the immigration status or suspected immigration status of an individual or the individual's family may induce fear sufficient to constitute extortion.

• AB 1159 by Assemblymember Lorena Gonzalez (D-San Diego) – Imposes various restrictions and obligations on persons who offer services related to comprehensive immigration reform.

• SB 141 by Senator Lou Correa (D-Santa Ana) – Requires that the California Community Colleges and the California State University, and requests that the University of California, exempt a United States citizen who resides in a foreign country, and is in their first year as a matriculated student, from nonresident tuition if the student demonstrates financial need, has a parent or guardian who was deported or voluntarily departed from the U.S., lived in California immediately before moving abroad, and attended a secondary school in California for at least three years.

• SB 150 by Senator Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) – Authorizes a community college district to exempt pupils attending community colleges as a special part-time student from paying nonresident tuition.

• SB 666 by Senator Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento) – Provides for a suspension or revocation of an employer's business license for retaliation against employees and others on the basis of citizenship and immigration status, and establishes a civil penalty up to $10,000 per violation.

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Staff Contact: Lizette Mata, (916) 651-4499