Alvarez’s legislation, AB 2586, would direct the University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges systems to open up employment to undocumented students without legal work permits.

Cervantes’ bill, deemed a constitutional amendment, is focused solely on the UC system as it has greater autonomy due to its public trust status.

“ACA 20 is the only vehicle in the legislature this session that would impose real meaningful requirements on the UC to provide these opportunities to undocumented students,” Cervantes said.

The two pieces of legislation come months after the UC Board of Regents backed away from a commitment to find a pathway to hire undocumented students without legal work permits.

Caucus follows up on farmworker housing investigation

One of the final priority bills presented this year could affect more than 7,000 farmworkers and family members who live at the state’s migrant centers. Arambula’s AB 2240 would result in California keeping its 24 migrant farmworker housing complexes open year-round.

The centers currently operate for only about six months, during the height of the agricultural work season. The complexes then close and remain vacant for months.

Last year, a Sacramento Bee investigation found many farmworkers mostly migrate because they cannot find places to live once they lose their affordable housing, and their children’s education suffers from the constant moves.

“This will help to create stability and to support our farmworker community,” Arambula said.

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