State Senate OKs Dream Act for immigrants’ kids


May 5, 2011 02:12AM


SPRINGFIELD — Undocumented college students would gain new access to privately funded scholarships under legislation that passed the Senate on Wednesday with support from immigration-rights groups.

The Illinois Dream Act, which passed 45-11 and now moves to the House, would establish a state commission to dole out privately funded scholarships to as many as 95,000 children of undocumented immigrants. No taxpayer dollars would be used.

The measure, sponsored by Senate President John Cullerton (D-Chicago), also would allow undocumented immigrants ages 18 to 29 with taxpayer-identification cards to invest in the state’s Bright Start and College Illinois programs.

“We are simply saying they should be treated as other children are who want to go to college,â€