Richard Brooks/OC Register
There is nothing that can be done to ease the heartache of the families dealing with the loss of their loved ones who died in the San Bernardino mass shooting in December, but local lawmakers are hoping to ease the financial burden. Free state college educations would be offered to the spouses and children of the 14 people slain during last month’s terrorist massacre in San Bernardino, under a proposal co-authored by several Southern California lawmakers, including one representing Orange County.
Tin Nguyen’s fiance San Trinh holds her picture as her coffin sits after her funeral service Saturday, Dec. 12, 2015, in Santa Ana, Calif. She died in the shootings in San Bernardino, Calif., on Dec. 2. (Ed Crisostomo/The Orange County Register via AP)
Assemblyman Jay Obernolte, R-Hesperia, made the announcement Wednesday, saying he would help write the tuition waiver in Senate Bill 893. The bill was also authored by State Sen. Janet Nguyen, who represents Garden Grove and Fountain Valley and other Orange County cities in the 34th District.
“Under SB 893, the dependents of those who lost their lives will be granted a tuition-free undergraduate education at the California Community Colleges, the California State University and the University of California.”
Tin Nguyen, 32, a county health inspector, was one of the victims of the shooting. In a written statement, Nguyen called the proposal a small token of sympathy for the surviving family members.
“The San Bernardino terror attack was a heartbreaking tragedy that struck too close to home. As a mother of two young children, I can only imagine the hurt and devastation that these families are experiencing,” Nguyen said in a written statement. “This bill is only a small token of remembrance in honor of those who died and lends a helping hand to their survivors.”
The bill is a response to the Dec. 2 shooting spree by a husband-and-wife terrorist team who killed 14 victims and wounded 22 others during a holiday celebration at the Inland Regional Center. The suspects were killed hours later during a shootout with law officers.
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