BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 13
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ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
13 (Chávez)
As Amended May 28, 2015
2/3 vote. Urgency
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|Committee |Votes |Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+------+----------------------+--------------------|
|Higher |13-0 |Medina, Baker, Bloom, | |
|Education | |Chávez, Harper, | |
| | |Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, | |
| | |Levine, Linder, Low, | |
| | |Santiago, Weber, | |
| | |Williams | |
| | | | |
|----------------+------+----------------------+--------------------|
|Veterans |9-0 |Irwin, Mathis, Alejo, | |
|Affairs | |Brough, Brown, | |
| | |Chávez, Daly, | |
| | |Frazier, Salas | |
| | | | |
|----------------+------+----------------------+--------------------|
|Appropriations |17-0 |Gomez, Bigelow, | |
| | |Bonta, Calderon, | |
| | |Chang, Daly, Eggman, | |
| | |Gallagher, | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | |Eduardo Garcia, | |
AB 13
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| | |Gordon, Holden, | |
| | |Jones, Quirk, Rendon, | |
| | |Wagner, Weber, Wood | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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SUMMARY: Exempts from the California Community College (CCC) nonresident
student fees those veterans living in California and covered under
the federal Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of
2014 (Choice Act), and authorizes CCCs to claim state
apportionment funding for these students enrolled on or after July
1, 2015.
EXISTING LAW: Requires the CCC, California State University, and
requests University of California, (the higher education
"segments") 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 Choice Act.
FISCAL
EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations Committee, it is
estimated that several hundred nonresident veterans attend CCCs.
For every 100 full-time equivalent students in this cohort, the
districts would be able to claim about $470,000 in state
apportionment funding.
COMMENTS: The United States Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
administers the federal G.I. Bill to provide education and
training benefits to eligible veterans and their eligible
dependents. The G.I. Bill specifically states that it will pay
all public school in-state tuition and fees. On August 7, 2014,
President Barack Obama signed the Choice Act. Among the numerous
provisions, the law requires public institutions to provide
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in-state tuition to specified veterans and eligible dependents in
order for the institution to remain eligible to receive G.I. Bill
education payments. The following "covered individuals" are
eligible for in-state tuition under the Choice Act:
1)A veteran who lives in the state (regardless of formal in-state
residence status) in which the higher education institution is
located and enrolls within three years of discharge from a
period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
2)A spouse or child using transferred benefits who lives in the
state (regardless of formal in-state residence status) in which
the higher education institution is located and enrolls within
three years of the transferor's discharge from a period of
active duty service of 90 days or more.
3)A spouse or child using benefits under the Marine Gunnery
Sergeant John David Fry Scholarship who lives in the state
(regardless of formal in-state residence status) in which the
higher education institution is located and enrolls within three
years of the servicemember's death in the line of duty following
a period of active duty service of 90 days or more.
In response to the enactment of the Choice Act, AB 13 (Conway),
Chapter 639, Statutes of 2014, required California State
University and CCC districts, and requested University of
California 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 Choice Act and the requirements of California law. The Choice
Act requires that public institutions either comply with the
nonresident tuition/fee waiver or discontinue participation in the
GI Bill educational benefits programs. AB 13 did not explicitly
require that the segments adopt policies that ensure continued
participation in GI Bill educational benefit programs. According
to the author, notwithstanding the enactment of this bill, this
bill is necessary to ensure CCC districts reduce tuition for
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nonresident veterans in compliance with the Choice Act and receive
state apportionment funding for those veteran students.
Analysis Prepared by:
Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960 FN:
0000684