BILL ANALYSIS                                                                                                                                                                                                    



                                                                  SB 361
                                                                  Page  1

          Date of Hearing:   July 15, 2009

                        ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
                                Kevin De Leon, Chair

                    SB 361 (Runner) - As Amended:  June 11, 2009 

          Policy Committee:                              Higher  
          EducationVote:9-0 (Consent)
                        Veterans Affairs                      9-0

          Urgency:     No                   State Mandated Local Program:  
          Yes    Reimbursable:              Yes

           SUMMARY  

          This bill:

          1)Clarifies that only those members or former members of the  
            Armed Forces who have received an honorable or general  
            discharge are eligible, pursuant to current law, for priority  
            enrollment at the California State University (CSU) or the  
            California Community Colleges (CCC) within two years of  
            leaving state or federal active duty.

          2)Expands the eligibility pool for the above benefit to include  
            members for the Armed Forces reserve units and members of the  
            California National Guard.

           FISCAL EFFECT  

          Negligible costs for the CSU and minor reimbursable costs for  
          the CCC to implement the enrollment modification required by  
          this bill.

           COMMENTS  

           Purpose  .  SB 272 (Runner)\Chapter 356 of 2007, provided priority  
          registration at CSU and CCC for members or former members of the  
          Armed Forces who enrolled or returned to college within two  
          years of leaving active duty.  The author seeks to extend the  
          priority registration to members or former members of the  
          National Guard and reserve components, and to clarify that only  
          members of the military who have received a dishonorable  
          discharge are not eligible for priority registration.  Veterans'  








                                                                  SB 361
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          benefits have historically been offered only to those who have  
          received honorable discharges or, at least, to veterans who have  
          other than a dishonorable discharge.

           Analysis Prepared by  :    Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916) 319-2081