BILL ANALYSIS �
SB 813
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Date of Hearing: June 29, 2011
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON VETERANS AFFAIRS
Paul J. Cook, Chair
SB 813 (Veterans Affairs) - As Amended: May 3, 2011
SUBJECT : Public postsecondary education: veterans' enrollment.
SUMMARY : This bill grants priority class enrollment to
California resident members or former members of the Armed
Forces of the United States, as specified, within 4 years of
leaving active duty.
Since the bill imposes additional duties on community college
districts, the bill imposes a state-mandated local program. This
bill provides for reimbursement to local agencies and school
districts for those costs incurred pursuant to the bill
provisions, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that
the bill contains costs mandated by the state.
EXISTING LAW requires California Community Colleges ("CCC") and
California State University ("CSU"), and requests University of
California, to give priority for registration for enrollment to
any member or former member of the Armed Services for any
academic term attended at one of these institutions within two
years of leaving active duty, if the institution already
administers a priority enrollment system �Education Code �
66025.8, established by SB 272 (Runner), Chapter 356, Statutes
of 2007].
FISCAL EFFECT : According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, this bill will result in a potentially significant
reimbursable mandate on CCC and minor and absorbable costs to
CSU.
COMMENTS : This bill extends the period during which a veteran
student will receive priority registration for classes. The
bill does not affect admissions policies. While it is always
difficult to balance one student's need against another's, there
are several policy considerations in favor of this bill:
1. These students are men and women who have served the
Nation, many of whom have placed their lives at risk, and
all of whom have sworn to support and defend the
Constitution of the United States.
SB 813
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2. It takes time to reintegrate into civilian life after a
period of active duty and then a discharge; a service
member's service identity, rank and role may be a major
part of his or her identity. Take for example the Marine
Corps saying, "Once a Marine, always a Marine." Discharge
means a major identity shift and the support structure of
the military is removed while that shift takes place.
3. Reintegration may be especially challenging for those
many veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts who
have been deployed and or in combat zones multiple times
and for years of time during their period of service, and
particularly for those who have been injured or disabled.
4. Even the most motivated student still needs to meet the
next available application window and be admitted to the
next available class; that admission date may be a year of
time away. For example, for the University of California,
applicants for the fall semester 2011 must've applied
during November 2010. So for the veteran who was
discharged after November, 2010, he or she could not even
apply for UC until July 2011, for potential winter or
spring admission (January 2012 or later).
5. In the interest of diversity, military veterans bring
something unique to a learning community. Their life
experience, knowledge, and motivation will benefit
institutions of higher education.
Related legislation : AB 649 (Harkey), would've expanded
priority enrollment for veterans from two to five years but was
subsequently held in the Senate Education Committee.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION :
Support
California Community Colleges Board of Governors
Community College League of California
University of California
Opposition
None received.
SB 813
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Analysis Prepared by : John Spangler / V. A. / (916) 319-3550