Education

AB 2159 Public postsecondary education: student residency requirements. (Joel Anderson, La Mesa) [UPDATED JUNE 5] [FAILED PASSAGE ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS]
DESCRIPTION: Repeals existing law that exempts specified nonresidents of California from paying nonresident tuition at the California State University (CSU), and the California Community Colleges (CCC), and entitles former members of the armed forces to resident classification for the purposes of determining the amount of public higher education tuition and fees, if the student is eligible for the Post 9/11 GI Education benefits. (The purpose of repealing the benefit for nonresident aliens is to provide a cost saving that would then provide for the increased costs for the veterans benefits.)

The bill was amended during the hearing by the Assembly Committee on Higher Education to delete that part which would have repealed the exemption for nonresident aliens from paying nonresident tuition.

The bill is essentially the same as AB 1758 (DeVore) of 2008. That bill was also amended in the same way by the Assembly Committee on Higher Education and then failed passage in the Committee on Appropriations because of the additional costs which would have resulted from the new benefit for veterans.

STATUS:
Passed by the Assembly Committee on Higher Education April 6 (vote 9-0). Placed on Suspense File by Committee on Appropriations April 21. Held under submission by Committee on Appropriations May 28. As expected, the bill has been killed.

SUPPORT/OPPOSITION:
The bill was supported, in its original version, by the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Department of California.
It was opposed by a long list of organizations including the American Civil Liberties Union, Asian Americans for Civil Right and Equality, California Immigrant Policy Center, Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, Immigrants Rights and Education Network.

SB 1075 Military service: benefits. (Lou Correa, Santa Ana) [UPDATED JULY 3]
DESCRIPTION: Existing law provides that when a student at a state school is granted a leave of absence for military service, the academic institution must credit the tuition and fees paid toward a subsequent academic term, or make a refund to the student.
This bill require, as an alternative upon election by the student, that the academic institution accommodate and assist the student to meet any and all coursework requirements that may have been missed due to compulsory military service.

STATUS: Passed by the Senate Committees on Veterans Affairs April 13 (vote 4-0), and by Committee on Education April 27 (vote 8-0). Passed by Committee on Appropriations May 17 (vote 7-0, with 4 abstentions). Passed by the Senate May 24 (vote 33-0).
In the Assembly, passed by the Committee on Veterans Affairs June 15 (vote 9-0), and by the Committee on Higher Education June 22 (vote 9-0).

SB 1382 ~~Military and veterans: veterans affairs: buildings, memorials, and cemeteries~~ Student financial aid: Cal Grant Program: methodology. (Senate Committee on Veterans Affairs: Jeff Denham, Merced, Chair; Lou Correa, Vice Chair, Santa Ana; Gil Cedillo, Los Angeles; Abel Maldonado, Santa Maria; Gloria Negrete McLeod, Chino; Patricia Wiggins, Santa Rosa; and Mark Wyland, Escondido.) [UPDATED JULY 3]
DESCRIPTION: The bill has now been amended.
This bill deletes the provision of law requiring, for all new Cal Grant awards, the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC) reduce "calculated financial need" by a veterans' education benefit.

STATUS:
Passed by the Senate Committee on Education April 21. Passed by the Senate April 29 (vote 33-0). Passed the Senate May 24 (vote 33-0).
In the Assembly, passed by the Committees on Veterans Affairs and Higher Education June 22 (vote 9-0). Passed by the Assembly June 28 (vote 78-0).