BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    Ó



                                                                  AB 2133
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          Date of Hearing:   April 10, 2012

                       ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
                                 Paul J. Cook, Chair
                 AB 2133 (Blumenfield) - As Amended:  March 21, 2012
           
          SUBJECT  :   Veterans: priority registration

           SUMMARY  :    This bill:

          1)Titles this section the Combat to College Act of 2012.

          2)Extends the priority registration for enrollment period for 
            California State University (CSU) and California Community 
            Colleges (CCC) for veterans from four years post discharge to 
            fifteen years post discharge.  

          3)Extends the scope of programs covered by priority registration 
            for enrollment; certificate programs will now be included.

          4)Requests UC comply with these provisions.

          5)Creates a reimbursable state mandate if so determined by the 
            Commission on State Mandates.

           EXISTING LAW  grants priority enrollment for registration to 
          veterans for four years post discharge from active duty.  
          Priority enrollment gives veterans priority over other students 
          when enrolling in classes.  The law currently gives this 
          priority for all degree programs.

          Montgomery GI Bill: Fewer veterans use this federal education 
          program since the advent of the Post 9/11 GI Bill Program, 
          however, this program generally pays a total of 36 months of 
          benefits for up to ten years post active duty.

          Post 9/11 GI Bill: This newer education benefit program 
          generally pays a total of 36 months of benefits for up to 
          fifteen years post active duty.

           FISCAL EFFECT  :   Unknown at this time.

          COMMENTS  :   A veteran student may need some time, perhaps even 
          years, before deciding to use GI bill benefits and go to school. 
           The GI Bill programs recognize this by giving a long time 








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          during which the veteran may use his or her benefits.  The bill 
          as drafted makes a parallel accommodation, giving students who 
          take some time to make the decision to go to school the benefit 
          of priority enrollment when the student is ready.  

          There is a second component to the GI Bill programs, the number 
          of academic months during which a student may receive benefits.  
          The GI bill student generally has 36 months of benefits; the 
          programs are designed to accommodate a student who works at a 
          reasonable pace to obtain a degree or similar academic outcome 
          before benefits run out.   The bill as drafted, however, does 
          not have a parallel provision; a veteran would receive an entire 
          15 years of priority enrollment for registration, not 36 months 
          within 15 years as under the GI Bill.  

          According to the author, the existing priority enrollment of 
          four years is not enough time because it does not mirror the 
          timeline that veterans have to use their GI Bill benefits and 
          because many veterans are not ready to pursue higher education 
          within four years of separation from the military due to brain 
          injuries, trauma, or life circumstances.

          There are two main policy reasons for giving priority enrollment 
          to veteran students.  One is to support those veterans who are 
          using their GI Bill so that they may have a reasonable chance to 
          finish a degree before their benefits run out. A second reason 
          is to recognize the sacrifice and service veterans have rendered 
          to the country.  The bill as drafted will both assist those 
          veteran students who are using GI Bill benefits, trying to get 
          through the system before benefits run out and all veteran 
          students in recognition of their service. 

          The State is in a time of budget austerity and most of our 
          institutions of higher education are impacted by deep budget 
          cuts and applications from far more students than they can 
          serve.  Many, if not most students face challenges getting 
          classes they need for their academic programs.  Policymakers 
          must balance the unique needs of veteran students who have 
          served their nation honorably during a time of war against the 
          needs of other students in a severely oversubscribed and 
          budget-reduced higher education system.  

          According to the Assembly Committee on Higher Education:
           
               Other priority registration efforts  .  After a year of study 








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               and research, this January the CCC Student Success Task 
               Force (created by SB 1143, Liu, Chapter 409, Statutes of 
               2010), issued a report with 22 recommendations to improve 
               CCC students' success in completing their certificates, 
               degrees and educational goals.  The report identifies core 
               priorities-basic math and English instruction, transfer 
               preparation, career technical training and degree 
               attainment-and refocusing policies and future investments 
               to support these priorities.  A key recommendation is to 
               give priority to returning and first-time students who have 
               taken a diagnostic assessment, participated in orientation 
               and have developed an educational plan.  All students will 
               need to identify a program of study within three semesters 
               or they will lose their priority.  

                Priority registration for all degree programs  .  It is 
               staff's understanding that existing law and practice 
               provide priority enrollment for veterans and active duty 
               military regardless of the course or degree program.  


           Related legislation  .  SB 813 (Committee on Veterans Affairs), 
          Chapter 375, Statutes of 2010, extended priority enrollment for 
          veterans from two to four years.  AB 194 (Beall), Chapter 458, 
          Statutes of 2010, granted priority enrollment for five years to 
          foster youth.   SB 272 (Runner), Chapter 356, Statutes of 2007, 
          as chaptered, established priority registration for two years 
          for members of the military.  

           REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION  :   

           Support 
           
          National Association of Social Workers
          American Legion- Department of California
          AMVETS- Department of California
          California Association of County Veteran Service Officers
          California State Commanders Veterans Council
          Vietnam Veterans of America- California State Council

           Support if amended
           
          California Community Colleges, Chancellor's Office
          California Community College League









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           Opposition 
           
          None at this time.
           
          Analysis Prepared by  :    John Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550