BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Alan Lowenthal, Chair
2011-2012 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 649
AUTHOR: Harkey
AMENDED: March 31, 2011
FISCAL COMM: Yes HEARING DATE: June 8, 2011
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Leticia Garcia
Daniel
Alvarez
SUBJECT : Public postsecondary education: veteran's
enrollment.
SUMMARY
This bill extends the period of time for priority class
registration enrollment, from two years to five years, to
members or former members of the Armed Services and
requires that any member or former member of the Armed
Services be a California resident.
BACKGROUND
Current law requires the California State University (CSU)
and each community college district (CCC), and requests the
University of California (UC), with respect to each campus
in their respective jurisdictions that administers a
priority enrollment system, to grant priority for
registration for enrollment to any member or former member
of the Armed Services for any academic term attended at one
of these institutions within two years of leaving active
duty.
(Education Code § 66025.8)
ANALYSIS
This bill extends the period of time for priority class
registration enrollment, from two years to five years, to
members or former members of the Armed Services and
requires that any member or former member of the Armed
Services be a California resident.
In addition, the bill requires reimbursement to local
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agencies and school districts to be made if the Commission
on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs
mandated by the state.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Need for the bill. According to the author, "two years
has proven to be limiting. Most veterans need to take
the proper time to transition back to civilian life as
well as reevaluate their long term goals." In
addition, the author states the need to clarify
existing law since "some colleges have had difficulty
in interpreting current law due to the use of the
terms enrollment and registration because they are too
similar and have led to confusion over the law's
intent."
California is home to the largest population of
veterans in the nation. According to the California
Department of Veterans Affairs, California's total
veteran population is estimated at 1.9 million (or
8.7% of the national population). In June 2010, The
Huffington Post found "more veterans choose for-profit
and community colleges under GI bill, and veterans and
college officials say cost, convenience, geography,
and support systems are significant factors in
veterans' college decisions with most opting going to
for profit colleges and community colleges."
2) Existing educational resources for Veterans
a) Federal Post 9/11 GI Bill. Provides
educational assistance to individuals who served
on active duty on or after September 11, 2001,
can be accessed for up to 10 years upon leaving
active duty.
b) Troops to College. Ensures veterans are
aware of all their higher education options in
California. For example, all CSU campuses have
veteran service representatives dedicated to
helping veterans and active-duty personnel take
advantage of the university's incredible
opportunities, and to make full use of their
benefits.
3) What is priority registration enrollment? Students who
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have priority enrollment registration status have an
advantage to select their classes before "open
registration" begins for the general student body.
Campuses have full discretion locally in how priority
is assigned. Each campus may designate certain
student groups with such priority registration such as
athletes.
4) Reimbursable mandated costs . In SB 272 (Chapter 356,
2007), the statute that provided the original two-year
timeframe for priority enrollment contained a possible
reimbursable mandate. At that time, the Department of
Finance indicated "while we believe that costs for the
community college system as a whole would be minor to
implement the provisions of this bill, these costs
could be found to be reimbursable state mandates on
local community college districts. We estimate that
these costs would range into the low thousands of
dollars statewide."
5) Related Legislation : SB 813 (Senate Committee on
Veterans Affairs), which is nearly identical to this
bill extends the period of time, from two years to
four years, that a former member of the Armed Forces
can receive priority registration enrollment at the
California State University (CSU) and the California
Community Colleges (CCC). The bill requests that the
University of California comply with priority
enrollment as specified in this measure.
SUPPORT
American Legion-Department of California
AMVETS-Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California Community Colleges, Chancellor's Office
California State Commanders Veterans Council
California State University
Community College League
Military Officers Association of America-California Council
of Chapters
Orange Coast College
Region 8, Veterans Program Director Consortium
Saddleback College
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Student Veterans of California
University of California
Vietnam Veterans of America-California State Council
OPPOSITION
None on file.