BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 13
Page 1
( Without Reference to File )
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB 13 (Conway)
As Amended August 28, 2014
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |77-0 |(May 28, 2013) |SENATE: | | |
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(vote not available)
Original Committee Reference: HIGHER ED.
SUMMARY : Requires the California Community Colleges (CCC) and
the California State University (CSU), and requests the
University of California (UC) to update and adopt policies no
later than July 1, 2015, regarding tuition rates for eligible
veterans and their eligible dependents to ensure conformity to,
and compliance with, the federal Veterans Access, Choice, and
Accountability Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-143) and the
requirements of California law.
The Senate amendments remove language that required students
using G.I. Bill benefits to be exempt from paying nonresident
tuition, and instead require CCC and CSU, and request UC, to
adopt policies compliant with federal law regarding residency
tuition for nonresident veterans.
EXISTING LAW establishes uniform residency requirements for
purposes of ascertaining the amount of fees to be paid by
students at CSU and CCC and establishes various exceptions to
these residency requirements, including many for current and
former members of the Armed Forces (Education Code Sections
68074 and 68075). The UC, as a result of its constitutional
autonomy, establishes its tuition policies; however, these
policies traditionally mirror state policies.
FISCAL EFFECT : Unknown
COMMENTS : On February 28, 2012, the Assembly Higher Education
and Assembly Veterans Affairs Committees held a joint oversight
hearing on the challenges facing California student veterans.
Several students and representatives from the higher education
institutions spoke for the need for more resources for veterans'
services, including more transition assistance, improving
AB 13
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outreach and campus-based programs, and easing the matriculation
of prior military learning. According to the author, an
additional barrier for veterans is the significant difference
between resident and nonresident tuition for veterans from other
states who wish to attend a California public institution before
they have had the opportunity to establish residency.
On August 7, 2014, President Barack Obama signed the Veterans
Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014. Among the
numerous provisions, the law requires public institutions to
provide in-state tuition to veterans and eligible dependents in
order for the institution to remain eligible to receive G.I.
Bill education payments. This bill would require CCC and CSU,
and request UC, to update and adopt policies by July 1, 2015,
regarding tuition rates for veterans and dependents to ensure
conformity to, and compliance with, the new federal law.
Analysis Prepared by : Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916)
319-3960 FN: 0005577