(a) Commencing with the 2020-21 academic year, the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and the University of California is requested to, designate a Dreamer Resource Liaison on each of their respective campuses, as specified in subdivision (b), to assist students meeting the requirements set forth in Section 68130.5 by streamlining access to all available financial aid and academic opportunities for those students.

(b) (1) Each campus of the California Community Colleges shall ensure that it has a staff person designated as a Dreamer Resource Liaison who is knowledgeable in available financial aid, social services, state-funded immigration legal services, internships, externships, and academic opportunities for all students meeting the requirements set forth in Section 68130.5, including undocumented students. The Legislature encourages each of these campuses to place this designated staff person in the campus’ extended opportunity programs and services office or financial aid office.

(2) Each campus of the California State University shall ensure that it has a staff person designated as a Dreamer Resource Liaison who is knowledgeable in available financial aid, social services, state-funded immigration legal services, internships, externships, and academic opportunities for all students meeting the requirements set forth in Section 68130.5, including undocumented students. The Legislature encourages each of these campuses to place this designated staff person in the campus’ educational opportunity programs office or financial aid office.

(3) The University of California is encouraged to designate a Dreamer Resource Liaison on each of its campuses. That staff person should be knowledgeable in available financial aid, social services, state-funded immigration legal services, internships, externships, and academic opportunities for all students meeting the requirements set forth in Section 68130.5, including undocumented students. The Legislature encourages each of these campuses to place this designated staff person in the campus’ educational opportunity programs office or financial aid office.

(c) (1) The California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California are encouraged to establish Dream Resource Centers on each of their respective campuses.

(2) Dream Resource Centers may offer support services, including, but not necessarily limited to, state and institutional financial aid assistance, academic counseling, peer support services, psychological counseling, referral for social services, and state-funded immigration legal services.

(d) (1) This section shall not be construed as encouraging the construction of a new or separate space for Dream Resource Centers.

(2) Dream Resource Centers may be housed within existing student service or academic centers.

(3) The space in which the Dreamer Resource Liaison is located may be deemed a Dream Resource Center.

(e) Notwithstanding § 11005 of the Government Code and any other law requiring approval by a state officer of gifts, bequests, devises, or donations, the Trustees of the California State University, the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, and the Regents of the University of California may seek and accept on behalf of the state any gift, bequest, devise, or donation whenever the gift and the terms and conditions thereof will aid in the creation and operation of Dream Resource Centers for their respective systems.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 788, Sec. 2. (AB 1645) Effective January 1, 2020.)