BILL NUMBER: ACR 159	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Members Gorell and Ma

                        JUNE 11, 2012

   Relative to postsecondary education.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   ACR 159, as introduced, Gorell. Postsecondary education: military
veterans.
   This measure encourages California Community Colleges, the
California State University, and the University of California to
consider and adopt the American Council on Education credit
recommendations to give veterans due credit for their military
experience.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, There are over 1.4 million Americans actively serving in
the Armed Forces at home and abroad; and
   WHEREAS, There are over two million veterans returning from
conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan; and
   WHEREAS, Veterans represent a broad spectrum of our society that
include older students with work and family responsibilities,
students whose college entry has been delayed, first-generation
students, and students with lower and middle socioeconomic statuses;
and
   WHEREAS, Veterans returning from overseas combat encounter many
obstacles to reentering society such as posttraumatic stress
disorder, depression, anxiety, and other medical conditions; and
   WHEREAS, Veterans have gained valuable skills through their
military training and combat experience; and
   WHEREAS, Some of this experience is firsthand experience in much
needed professions such as emergency medicine, engineering, and law
enforcement; and
   WHEREAS, The G.I. Bill gives veterans the ability to enroll in
postsecondary education courses after returning from service; and
   WHEREAS, The Congress of the United States enacted the Post-9/11
Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-252) to
encourage returning veterans to attain a college education by
covering the cost of tuition and providing other incentives; and
   WHEREAS, The American Council on Education credit recommendations
are strong indicators of military experience and knowledge acquired,
and that experience should be counted toward college credit; and
   WHEREAS, More than 2,300 colleges and universities recognize the
American Council on Education endorsed transcripts as official
documentation of military experiences and accurate records of
applicable American Council on Education credit recommendations; and
   WHEREAS, Education has historically been viewed as the great
equalizer; and
   WHEREAS, The California State Assembly and Senate value military
service; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That California Community Colleges, the
California State University, and the University of California are
encouraged to consider and adopt the American Council on Education
credit recommendations to give veterans due credit for their military
experience, which will result in more veterans graduating from a
public postsecondary education institution, and will help ensure the
success of our veterans at our public postsecondary education
institutions; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the authors for appropriate distribution.