BILL NUMBER: AB 27	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Chávez

                        DECEMBER 1, 2014

   An act to amend Section 68075.5 of the Education Code, relating to
public postsecondary education.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 27, as introduced, Chávez. Public postsecondary education:
exemption from nonresident tuition.
   Under existing law, the segments of the public postsecondary
education system in the state include the University of California,
which is administered by the Regents of the University of California,
the California State University, which is administered by the
Trustees of the California State University, and the California
Community Colleges, which are administered by the Board of Governors
of the California Community Colleges.
   Existing law exempts a student of the California Community
Colleges or the California State University who was a member of the
Armed Forces of the United States stationed in this state on active
duty for more than one year immediately prior to being discharged
from paying nonresident tuition for the length of time he or she
lives in the state after being discharged up to the minimum time
necessary to become a resident.
   Existing law also exempts a student meeting the qualifications
described above if he or she is enrolled, or intending to enroll, at
a campus of the California Community Colleges or as an undergraduate
at a campus of the California State University from paying
nonresident tuition for up to one year if he or she files an
affidavit with the institution stating that he or she intends to
establish residency in California as soon as possible. Existing law
requires a student to use this exemption within 2 years of being
discharged.
   Existing law requires the California Community Colleges and the
California State University, and requests the 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 federal
Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 and the
requirements of the provisions described above.
   Existing law prohibits a former member of the Armed Forces who
received a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge from receiving an
exemption from paying nonresident tuition under either of the
provisions described above.
   Existing law provides that the statutory provisions relating to
student residency requirements for public postsecondary education
apply to the University of California only to the extent that the
regents act, by resolution, to make these provisions applicable.
   The bill would require the California State University, and would
request the University of California, to exempt from paying
nonresident tuition a student or prospective student of their
respective segments who is using, or is intending to use, "GI Bill
education benefits," as defined, while enrolled as a student of that
segment.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 68075.5 of the Education Code is amended to
read:
   68075.5.  (a) Except as provided for in subdivisions (b), (c),
 and (d),     (d), and (e),  a
student of the California Community Colleges or the California State
University who was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States
stationed in this state on active duty for more than one year
immediately prior to being discharged shall be exempt from paying
nonresident tuition for the length of time he or she lives in this
state after being discharged up to the minimum time necessary to
become a resident.
   (b) (1) Except as provided for in subdivisions  (c) and
(d),   (c), (d), and (e),  a student enrolled, or
intending to enroll, at a campus of the California Community
Colleges, or as an undergraduate at a campus of the California State
University, who was a member of the Armed Forces of the United States
stationed in this state on active duty for more than one year
immediately prior to being discharged shall be exempt from paying
nonresident tuition for up to one year if he or she files an
affidavit with the institution at which he or she is enrolled, or
intends to enroll, stating that he or she intends to establish
residency in California as soon as possible.
   (2) The one-year exemption provided in paragraph (1) shall be used
by the student within two years of being discharged.
   (c) Notwithstanding any other law, the California Community
Colleges and the California State University shall, and the
University of California is requested 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 113-146) and the requirements
of this section. 
   (d) (1) Notwithstanding any other law, the California State
University shall, and the University of California is requested to,
exempt from paying nonresident tuition a student or prospective
student of their respective segments who is using, or is intending to
use, "GI Bill education benefits" while enrolled as a student of
that segment.  
   (2) As used in this subdivision, "GI Bill education benefits"
refers to any education benefit administered by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs pursuant to Title 38 of the United
States Code that is designed to help eligible veterans of the Armed
Forces of the United States or other eligible persons with a
relationship to a veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States to
cover the costs associated with enrollment as a student of that
segment.  
   (d) 
    (   e)  A former member of the Armed Forces of
the United States who received a dishonorable or bad conduct
discharge shall not be eligible for an exemption pursuant to this
section.