Assembly Member Santiago’s Free Community College Bachelor Degree Bill Passes Higher Education Committee

(Sacramento, CA) – Following yesterday’s passage of AB 2093 (Santiago) out of the Assembly Higher Education Committee, Assembly Member Miguel Santiago (D-Los Angeles) released the following statement:

“As the former President of the nation’s largest community college district and as someone who heavily relied on financial aid for college, it is imperative to ensure more Californians have the opportunity to access a bachelor’s degree,” said Assembly Member Santiago.

“While California has made significant investments in need-based financial aid for our community college students, the number of bachelor’s degree earners fell by 2.4 percent, the first drop we have seen in a decade. While we have had many successes in providing a debt-free pathway to a higher education such as AB 2 and AB 19, we have more to do. We must ensure that all students can pursue a higher education without a financial burden.”

AB 2093 will expand the California Promise Program (one of the most extensive aid programs in the nation) to enable community colleges to have tuition free bachelor’s degrees by waiving enrollment fees for all full time students pursuing a bachelor’s degree.

AB 2093 will be referred to the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Assembly Member Miguel Santiago is the Assistant Assembly Majority Leader. He serves on the Arts, Entertainment, Sports and Tourism Committee, the Health Committee, and the Utilities & Energy Committee. He represents the 54th District composed of the cities of Los Angeles, Commerce, Montebello, and Vernon.

###