San Diego and Imperial County Community College Association (SDICCCA) is celebrating a significant milestone as State Assembly Bill 91, aimed at facilitating access to higher education for binational students near the California-Mexico border, successfully passed out of the Assembly. The bill next progresses to the Senate, where it will be heard in the Committee on Education on June 28. This moves the region’s colleges one step closer to providing low-income students residing in Mexico, within 45 miles of the California border, the opportunity to pay in-state tuition fees.
Progression of AB 91 demonstrates the Assembly’s acknowledgment of the unique educational and workforce needs of our binational region and economy.
"We live in a dynamic border region where we need to educate more students to fill the jobs required for growth. AB 91 will provide students that live close to the border with a pathway to attend our local community colleges and expand our binational workforce. The bill received overwhelming bipartisan support in the Assembly and I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate,” shared the bill’s author Assemblymember David Alvarez.
Every day, thousands of binational students, including U.S.-born children from low-income households, cross the San Ysidro Port of Entry to attend school in California while living in Mexico due to the lower cost of living. Assembly Bill 91 aims to address their educational needs by granting them the ability to pay in-state tuition and attend community colleges within their proximity.
The successful passage of the bill out of the Assembly demonstrates the commitment of lawmakers to support the educational aspirations of binational students and promote regional economic growth. SDICCCA Chair and MiraCosta College superintendent/president Dr. Sunita “Sunny” Cooke expressed her enthusiasm, stating, "We are thrilled that Assembly Bill 91 has cleared this crucial hurdle in the legislative process. This is a significant step toward providing equal educational opportunities and fostering economic prosperity in our region."
Under the proposed pilot program, each participating college would admit up to 150 full-time equivalent (FTE) binational students. To be eligible, students must be U.S. citizens or Mexican citizens with a visa. By paying in-state tuition, these students would benefit from significantly reduced fees of $46 per unit, compared to the average non-resident fee of $300.
The bill's passage through the Assembly marks a significant achievement, as it aims to address the educational challenges faced by binational students and ensure they are treated as residents rather than foreign students. By doing so, the legislation seeks to promote social mobility and enhance the region's workforce.
“The unique relationship between San Diego and Tijuana is more than just geographic coincidence,” said Senator Steve Padilla, a coauthor of the measure. “Our cultures and our economies share a history that goes back generations. These students are truly binational citizens, living, working and contributing to both of our economies. AB 91 is an important investment in their futures as well as our region’s future success.”
As AB 91 moves into the Senate for further consideration, the legislation stands as a testament to the commitment of California lawmakers to support equitable access to education and economic opportunities in this important binational region.
ABOUT SDICCCA
The San Diego and Imperial Counties Community College Association is a collaboration between the six community college districts in the two-county area. SDICCCA comprises the community colleges in the two-county region that together serve more than 230,000 students. SDICCCA collaborates closely with San Diego State University, UC San Diego, Cal State San Marcos, the San Diego Workforce Partnership, and other regional partners. Together, the districts and partners focus on developing and maintaining effective programs that ensure student success, serve the community, and train workers with up-to-date job skills.
