ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) - An education bill related to national efforts to help illegal immigrants has failed in Albany, setting up an election fight for New York's immigrant vote.
The "Dream Fund" bill would have allowed illegal immigrants to apply for state-funded college financial aid, such as the Tuition Assistant Program. The measure was pushed hard by the Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian Legislative Caucus.
The measure passed the Democrat-led Assembly, but the Senate's Republican majority won't bring it to the floor in these last two days of the regular session.
Lawmakers are finishing several bills Wednesday, including the final votes on creating a new agency to better protect disabled people in state facilities from abuse and neglect.
Diverse bills being considered as the session winds down include one that would define autism.
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