BILL ANALYSIS
SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
Gloria Romero, Chair
2009-2010 Regular Session
BILL NO: AB 669
AUTHOR: Fong
INTRODUCED: February 25, 2009
FISCAL COMM: No HEARING DATE: June 17, 2009
URGENCY: No CONSULTANT:Nancy Anton
NOTE : This bill has been requested by the Senate
Appropriations Committee.
A "do pass" motion should include a referral to the Senate
Rules Committee for consideration of the referral request
of the Senate Appropriations Committee.
SUBJECT : Higher Education: student residency requirements
for foster youth.
SUMMARY
This bill expands the category of students entitled to
"resident" status for purposes of paying in-state student
fees to include current and former foster youth, as
specified.
BACKGROUND
Current law establishes the requirements for determining
residency for purposes of paying the lower-cost in-state
student fees at the California Community Colleges (CCCs),
the California State University (CSU), and the University
of California (UC). To qualify for the lower resident
fees, students are generally required to have resided in
California for more than one year immediately preceding the
residence determination date and undertaken other specific
actions such as registering to vote or registering one's
car in California
Current law defines as "residents" for purposes of paying
college fees specified categories of individuals who may
not meet the above one-year residency requirement. Some of
these exempted categories include: armed forces members
remaining in the state after discharge; Native Americans
who attend BIA administered schools; certain federal civil
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service military mission employees; amateur athletes in
Olympic training in Chula Vista; undergraduate students who
are members of the armed forces serving in California on
active duty; graduate students who are members of the armed
forces serving on active duty in California; and California
employees working outside of the state.
ANALYSIS
This bill expands the category of students who qualify to
pay in-state resident fees to include students who are 19
years old or younger and who are currently a ward of the
state through the child welfare system or was such a ward
but either was emancipated or aged out of the system.
STAFF COMMENTS
1) Why this bill ? Typically, for minor students (those
under age 18) the determination of residency for
purposes of paying in-state fees is derived from the
residency status of the student's parent/s. For
foster youth and those who are wards of the court,
this typically does not make sense. This bill would
allow such students to be considered a resident for
purposes of paying fees for a minimum of one-year;
during that year, the student would then be able to
establish residency based on their own status.
2) What is the difference between paying in-state v.
nonresident fees ? The following chart displays the
fees for a full-time undergraduate student in 2008-09:
Resident
Nonresident
UC $7,125
$27,724
CSU $3,048
$10,170
CCC $20 per unit statewide average: $
190 per unit
3) Fiscal impact . This bill expands the category of
students exempted from paying nonresident student fees
and, to such end, could result in foregone revenue
losses for the UC, CSU and the CCCs. Although
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Legislative Counsel has identified this bill as
non-fiscal, to the extent that the bill results in
reduced revenues for the CCCs, CSU and/or UC, the bill
could create pressure on the state General Fund to
backfill for these foregone revenues. (Note:
information from CSU indicates that they currently
follow the policy outlined by this bill and would not
incur any revenue losses as a result of its
implementation.)
SUPPORT
All Saints Church Foster Care Project
Bakersfield College
California Community Colleges Chancellor's Office
California Community Colleges Student Financial Aid
Administrators Association
California Teachers Association
California Postsecondary Education Commission
Chabot Las Positas Community College District
City College of San Francisco
College of the Canyons
College of the Desert
Community College League
Cuyamaca College
El Camino Community College District
Faculty Association of California Community Colleges
Foothill - De Anza Community College District
Fullerton College
Imperial Valley College
Kern Community College District
Los Angeles Community College District
Los Rios Community College District
Mira Costa Community College District
Mount San Antonio College
Peralta Community College District
Riverside Community College District
San Jose - Evergreen Community College District
San Mateo County Community College District
Student Senate for California Community Colleges
West Kern Community College District
Yuba Community College District
University of California
OPPOSITION
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None received.