California Democrats are optimistic that a new law to give discounted college tuition to Mexican citizens could help grow the Southern California workforce.

Democratic Assemblyman David Alvarez, who introduced the bill in January, said the since-passed legislation has the potential to "unlock a significant untapped resource" and boost the state economy by preparing a more diverse population for a variety of jobs through getting them into community college at a cheaper rate.

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Assembly Bill 91, signed into law last Friday by Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA), means Mexican citizens who live within 45 miles of the California border will not have to pay five times the price of in-state tuition to attend a community college.

“We live in a dynamic border region where we need to educate more students to fill the jobs required for growth,” Alvarez said in a statement. “This bill will allow low-income residents who live close to the border to attend local community colleges.”

The average tuition of a California community college is $1,250 for a state resident, while out-of-state residents face costs of more than $6,600, according to data for the 2023-24 school year analyzed by the Community College Review organization in New York.

The law creates a five-year pilot program that allows Mexican citizens to be exempt from out-of-state tuition rates. Dr. Mark Sanchez, president of Southwestern College in Southern California, applauded the program for what it has the potential to do for the local economy.

"This is a transformational bill for the realities of our region. By expanding affordable access to our region's community colleges, our binational students will be better equipped to enter our workforce and be a part of this thriving binational economy,” Sanchez said in a statement Monday.

The plan was based on a 2015 proposal that allowed Nevada residents who lived near the California border to get in-state tuition at Lake Tahoe Community College.

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Republicans have kept quiet about the bill despite its appeal to non-U.S. citizens. The bill received overwhelming support in the House and Senate during votes last month. Immigrants who illegally cross the border into California are not eligible for in-state tuition under this particular program.

The pilot program is slated to take effect on Jan. 1, 2024.