BILL NUMBER: SB 361 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 351
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE OCTOBER 11, 2009
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR OCTOBER 11, 2009
PASSED THE SENATE SEPTEMBER 2, 2009
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 27, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JUNE 11, 2009
AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 6, 2009
AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 13, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Senator Runner
FEBRUARY 25, 2009
An act to amend Section 66025.8 of the Education Code, relating to
postsecondary education.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
SB 361, Runner. Public postsecondary education: priority
registration: Armed Forces and State Military Reserve service.
(1) Existing law requires the California State University and each
community college district, and requests the University of
California, with respect to each campus in their respective
jurisdictions that administers a priority enrollment system, to grant
priority for registration for enrollment to any member or former
member of the Armed Forces of the United States for any academic term
attended at one of these institutions within 2 years of leaving
active duty.
This bill would specify that these priority registration
provisions apply to any member or former member of the Armed Forces
of the United States who has received an honorable discharge, a
general discharge, or an other than honorable discharge; and to any
member or former member of the State Military Reserve, but not to
those who have received either a dishonorable discharge or bad
conduct discharge. The bill also would define "Armed Forces of the
United States" for purposes of the priority registration provisions.
By establishing revised requirements relating to student eligibility
for priority registration for community college districts, the bill
would impose a state-mandated local program.
(2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse
local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 66025.8 of the Education Code is amended to
read:
66025.8. (a) The California State University and each community
college district shall, and the University of California is requested
to, with respect to each campus in their respective jurisdictions
that administers a priority enrollment system, grant priority in that
system for registration for enrollment to any member or former
member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has received an
honorable discharge, a general discharge, or an other than honorable
discharge; and to any member or former member of the State Military
Reserve, for any academic term attended at one of these institutions
within two years of leaving state or federal active duty. A former
member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the State Military
Reserve who received a dishonorable discharge or a bad conduct
discharge is not eligible for priority registration for enrollment
pursuant to this section.
(b) (1) For purposes of this section, "Armed Forces of the United
States" means the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps,
National Guard, Naval Militia, Navy, and the reserve components of
each of those forces, including the California National Guard.
(2) As used in this section, "member or former member of the Armed
Forces of the United States" includes, but is not necessarily
limited to, any student who is called to active military duty
compelling that student to take an academic leave of absence.
SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.