BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 418
Page 1
Date of Hearing: June 23, 2015
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Jose Medina, Chair
SB
418 (Morrell) - As Amended April 15, 2015
SENATE VOTE: 36-0
SUBJECT: California State University: readmission.
SUMMARY: Requires the California State University (CSU) to
comply with specified federal law regarding readmission
requirements for service members attending postsecondary
education institutions, and authorizes the CSU to adopt
regulations to implement said provisions.
EXISTING LAW:
Federal law. Establishes readmission requirements for service
members attending postsecondary education institutions and
specifically prohibits an institution from denying readmission
to a person who is a member of, applies to be a member of,
performs, has performed, applies to perform, or has an
obligation to perform, service in the uniformed services on the
SB 418
Page 2
basis of that membership, application for membership,
performance of service, application for service, or obligation
to perform service. Specifies that an institution is required
to promptly readmit the individual with the same academic status
as the student had when he/she last attended the institution or
was last admitted to the institution. Requires that the
cumulative length of the absence (and of all previous absences
from that institution by reason of service, including only the
time the student spends actually performing service in the
uniformed services) does not exceed five years (Code of Federal
Regulations 34, Section 668.18).
State law. Requires each segment (California Community
Colleges, CSU, and University of California) of public higher
education to establish, and update as necessary, a written
policy concerning students who are called to active military
service, and specifically requires that the policy ensure that
those students do not lose academic credits or degree status,
and provide for a refund of fees paid by the student for the
term in which he or she was called to active military service
(Education Code Section 66023).
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, pursuant to Senate Rule 28.8, negligible state costs.
COMMENTS: CSU compliance? According to the CSU, in response to
recently modified federal law, on January 10, 2014, all CSU
campuses were directed to promptly readmit service member
students in the same program with the same enrollment and
academic status. Campuses were also advised that student
service members may defer their return no later than three years
after completing service and may not have a cumulative period of
more than five years absence, including service. It appears
that the CSU complies with federal law requirements regarding
SB 418
Page 3
readmission; however, state regulations have not been updated to
reflect the federal changes.
Purpose for this measure. According to the author, "The purpose
of this bill is to ensure that every campus in the CSU system is
in compliance with federal law regarding approved absences for
active duty military personnel. CSU has updated its policies to
reflect recent [federal] changes, however, at least one campus
still holds to the previous two-year limit on these approved
absences."
This measure seeks to ensure that the state is in full
compliance with federal law regarding this issue; and, ensures
that the CSU Trustees adopt regulations that all CSU campuses
must implement.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
Support
None on file.
Opposition
None on file.
Analysis Prepared by:Jeanice Warden / HIGHER ED. / (916)
SB 418
Page 4
319-3960