<p>Governor Jerry Brown signed a new law that grants illegal immigrants access to state aid at public universities and colleges.  According to an article in the Los Angeles Times quoted below:</p>
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<p>" Jerry Brown on Saturday granted illegal immigrants access to state  financial aid at public universities and community colleges, putting  California once again in the center of the nation's immigration debate.  But he vetoed a measure that would have allowed state universities to  consider applicants' race, gender and income to ensure diversity in  their student populations.  Deciding the fate of 50 education-related bills, the governor also  rejected an effort to make it more difficult to establish charter  schools.   None of the other proposals, however, has drawn the attention — or  rancor — surrounding the California Dream Act. Most Republican  legislators voted against it, and anti-illegal-immigration groups  denounced it as unfair.  Brown's signature on the bill fulfilled a campaign promise to allow  high-achieving students who want to become citizens the opportunity to  attend college, regardless of their immigration status.  "Going to college is a dream that promises intellectual excitement and  creative thinking," Brown said in a statement. "The Dream Act benefits  us all by giving top students a chance to improve their lives and the  lives of all of us."  Beginning in 2013, illegal immigrants accepted by state universities may  receive assistance from Cal-Grants, a public program that last year  provided aid to more than 370,000 low-income students.  The new law also makes students who are not legally in the country  eligible for institutional grants while attending the University of  California and California State University systems. And it permits them  to obtain fee waivers in the community college system.  Students must graduate from a California high school after attending  school in the state for at least three years and must affirm that they  are in the process of applying to legalize their immigration status.  They also must show financial need and meet academic standards.  The bill was by Assemblyman Gil Cedillo (D-Los Angeles), who praised Brown for showing courage in signing it."</p>