BILL ANALYSIS
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SJR 16
Author: Denham (R), et al
Amended: As introduced
Vote: 21
WITHOUT REFERENCE TO COMMITTEE OR FILE
SUBJECT : Veterans: educational benefits
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This resolution requests that the President and
the Congress of the United States pass H.R. 2474 that
restores funding for California veterans pursuing higher
education.
ANALYSIS : This resolution makes the following
legislative findings:
1. In 2008, Congress passed the Post-9/11 Veterans
Educational Assistance Act of 2008 to expand educational
benefits to veterans of the war on terror. A veteran
can receive a grant of up to the maximum tuition and
fees charged to an in-state undergraduate student
attending a public institution in his/her particular
state. The benefit can be used at either a public or
private institution.
2. Under California law, public institutions of higher
education may not charge tuition to in-state residents.
CONTINUED
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Because California's public institutions of higher
education charge no tuition, their fees are often
considerably higher than the amount of fees charged by
private institutions that are permitted to levy a
tuition cost. Based on the amount charged by public
institutions to California's in-state residents, the
United States Department of Veterans Affairs has
determined the maximum tuition benefit to be zero
dollars ($0), while the maximum fee benefit can equal up
to $6,586.54.
3. In California, veterans receive no tuition benefit and
are often only allowed to use a fraction of their fee
allotment at a private institution of higher education.
For a student attending Stanford University, with an
approximate tuition cost of $37,000 and fees of $1,000,
a California veteran would receive no benefit to defray
the cost of tuition and would only be able to access
$1,000 in fee benefits to cover that portion of the
cost.
4. The federal Veterans Educational Equity Act ensures
California veterans are able to access the full benefit
calculated under the law, rather than limiting their
funding because of the state's zero tuition policy. The
full benefit, tuition plus fees, can be used to offset
the full cost of the tuition plus fees. Thus, the bill
ensures California veterans can use up to the full
$6,586.54 benefit calculated by the United States
Department of Veterans Affairs, similar to the benefits
enjoyed by other veterans in other states.
5. H.R. 2474 by California Congressman McKeon seeks to
remedy the loophole that denies California veterans
their educational benefits.
This resolution requests the President and the Congress of
the United States to pass H.R. 2474 that restores funding
for California veterans pursuing higher education.
FISCAL EFFECT : Fiscal Com.: No
SUPPORT : (Verified 7/2/09)
SJR 16
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American Legion, Department of California
AMVETS, Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council
ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the proponents of
this resolution, "Due to recent interpretations, it has
been determined that California veterans are not eligible
to receive the same tuition benefits from the new Federal
GI Bill that veterans in other states are eligible to
receive. We believe the clarification included in H.R.
2474 is needed so that our veterans can receive the GI
education benefits that they are entitled to."
TSM:mw 7/2/09 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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