BILL ANALYSIS Ó SB 418 Page 1 Date of Hearing: July 8, 2015 ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS Jimmy Gomez, Chair SB 418 (Morrell) - As Amended April 15, 2015 ----------------------------------------------------------------- |Policy |Higher Education |Vote:|12 - 0 | |Committee: | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |-------------+-------------------------------+-----+-------------| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | ----------------------------------------------------------------- Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No SUMMARY: This bill requires the California State University (CSU) to comply with a specified federal law regarding readmission requirements for service members attending postsecondary institutions. SB 418 Page 2 FISCAL EFFECT: Negligible fiscal impact, as CSU indicates it is already in compliance with the federal law. COMMENTS: Background and Purpose. 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. 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." According to CSU, all campuses are in compliance with the federal law and CSU policy. Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081 SB 418 Page 3