BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    






                      SENATE COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
                             JEFF DENHAM, CHAIRMAN
                                             


          Bill No:        SB 361
          Author:         Runner
          Version:        As Amended April, 13, 2009
          Hearing Date:   April 14, 2009
          Fiscal:         Yes
          Consultant:     Donald E. Wilson


                                 SUBJECT OF BILL  
          Clean up language for priority admission to California  
          universities. 
           
                                   PROPOSED LAW  
          To limit priority admission to honorably discharged  
          veterans and to include the California National Guard in  
          the definition of Armed Forces.
                                         
                          EXISTING LAW AND BACKGROUND  
          In the 2007-2008 legislative session SB 272 (Runner)  
          allowed veterans to be given priority registration if they  
          were within two years of discharge from military service.

          Veterans' benefits are given to honorably discharged  
          veterans.

                                     COMMENT  
          1.  Historically veterans' benefits are offered only to  
          those veterans who have received honorable discharges or,  
          at least, to veterans who have an other than dishonorable  
          discharge. 

          2.  Those who have received dishonorable discharges are not  
          considered to have held up their end of their enlistment  
          contract, and therefore, are not eligible to receive  
          benefits.  This bill brings this state benefit into line  
          with standards set at the federal level.

          3.  Other clean up language in this bill also adds the  
          California National Guard to the definition of "Armed  
          Forces of the United States" for purposes of this section.










                                     SUPPORT  
          American Legion, Department of California
          Faculty Association of California Community Colleges

                                      OPPOSE  
          None received






































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