AB-2210: Public postsecondary education: holders of certain special immigrant visas.

Apr 1, 2018

Session: 2017-2018
Author: McCarty
Status: Signed into Law (Chaptered)
AAP-CA Position: Support
To view the status of this bill on the State Website, click here.
This bill would exempt students granted special immigrant visas pursuant to an additional federal statute from paying nonresident tuition at the California Community Colleges. To the extent that this bill would place additional requirements on community college districts to exempt those students from nonresident tuition, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.

AAP Positional Letter

March 26, 2018

The Honorable Jose Medina
Chair, Assembly Higher Education Committee
Legislative Office Building, 1020 N Street, Room 173
Sacramento, CA 95814

RE: ​AB 2210 (McCarty) Public postsecondary education: holders of certain special immigrant visas
AAP-CA Position: Support

Dear Chair Medina,

The American Academy of Pediatrics, California (AAP-CA), representing over 5,000 California pediatricians, strongly supports AB 2210 (McCarty), which would exempt students granted special immigrant visas from paying nonresident tuition at the California Community Colleges.

Under the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2006, certain Afghan and Iraqi nationals who had been displaced due to the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and other countries were provided special immigrant status visas (SIV) in the United States. Between 2011 and March 2017, 9,200 SIV holders resettled in California.

Students who have been granted special immigrant visas belong to families that have escaped war and persecution, seeking safety and better lives. They encounter numerous barriers when assimilating into the United States, including the cost of higher education.

AB 2210 (McCarty) would help the students with special immigrant visas rebuild their families and their lives by exempting them from paying nonresident tuition at the California Community Colleges.

Pediatrician members of AAP California Chapters 1, 2, 3 and 4 across the state urge you to vote AYE on AB 2210 (McCarty). Thank you for your public service and leadership on behalf of the health and wellbeing of children, youth, and families in California.

Sincerely,

Jayme Congdon, M.D., M.S.
Resident Representative Member, AAP-CA State Government Affairs Committee
American Academy of Pediatrics, California

cc: Assembly Higher Education Committee Members
Office of Honorable Kevin McCarty, California State Assembly (Author)
AAP-CA Leadership; Lobbyist Lydia Bourne