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Committee moves AB 713 to Appropriations after heated legal debate over campus jobs for undocumented students
Summary
AB 713, to let undocumented students access paid on‑campus jobs across UC, CSU and community colleges, was sent to Appropriations after supporters emphasized affordability and opponents warned of federal legal and funding risks; authors’ counsel argued federal prohibition does not explicitly bind states.
AB 713, authored by Assemblymember Jose Solace, would allow students at University of California, California State University and California Community Colleges equal access to on‑campus employment regardless of immigration status. The Assembly Higher Education Committee voted to pass the bill to Appropriations after extended debate over student equity and legal risk.
Supporters — including the California Immigrant Policy Center, the UC Student Association and multiple student witnesses — described campus employment as essential to affordability, retention and career preparation. Carlos Alarcon of the California Immigrant Policy Center and Aditi Hariharan of UCSA said the bill would remove a barrier that forces undocumented students into precarious off‑campus work. Dozens of students and organizational cosponsors registered support on the record.
Opponents and some committee members warned AB 713 could conflict with federal immigration law and put institutions at risk of losing federal funding. A member argued that federal law prohibits employment by people without work authorization and that the appropriate venue to change those rules would be Congress; the member urged colleagues not to put students or state employees at legal risk.
Author’s counsel responded that the federal prohibition on hiring undocumented people (under IRCA) does not explicitly name states, so their legal opinion is that state entities are not bound by that particular statutory language; counsel also said community college governing boards are arms of the state and therefore could be covered. Members pressed whether federal funding streams might be jeopardized; witnesses and the author noted litigation risks and suggested the state could defend California policy where necessary.
After debate the committee recorded a vote sending AB 713 to Appropriations (final recorded result after add‑ons: six ayes, three no’s and one not voting). The committee left the roll open at one point while additional members voted.
What’s next: AB 713 proceeds to Appropriations for fiscal analysis and further consideration of legal implications including potential federal preemption and funding risk.
