California Assembly Bill AB1569 Introduced / Bill

 BILL NUMBER: AB 1569INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Committee on Veterans Affairs (Salas (Chair), Cook (Vice Chair), Huber, Lieu, V. Manuel Perez, and Yamada) MARCH 16, 2009 An act to amend Sections 68074 and 68075 of the Education Code, relating to student tuition. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 1569, as introduced, Committee on Veterans Affairs. Postsecondary education: tuition: veterans. (1) Existing law establishes uniform student residency requirements for purposes of ascertaining the amount of fees to be paid by students at public institutions of higher education in the state. Existing law entitles an undergraduate student who is a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces stationed in this state on active duty to resident classification for purposes of determining the amount of tuition and fees. Existing law entitles a graduate student, under the same circumstances, to resident classification for no more than one academic year, after which he or she is subject to the general provisions otherwise establishing student residency requirements. Existing law allows a student dependent of a member of the Armed Forces to keep his or her resident classification until he or she has resided in the state for the minimum time necessary to become a resident in the event the member of the Armed Forces upon whom they are dependent is transferred outside of the state or retires as an active member of the Armed Forces. Existing law also grants a member of the Armed Forces who is stationed in the state on active duty, except a member assigned for educational purposes to a state-supported institution of higher education, to resident classification for tuition purposes. A member of the Armed Forces seeking a graduate degree is entitled to resident classification for no more than 2 academic years. Federal law prohibits a state receiving federal assistance under the Higher Education Opportunity Act from charging a higher rate for attendance at a public institution of higher education than is charged to residents of the state to a member of the Armed Forces who is on active duty for more than 30 days and whose domicile or permanent duty station is in the state, or to his or her spouse or dependent child. Existing federal law requires that the rate continue to apply so long as the member or his or her spouse or dependent child is continuously enrolled at the institution, notwithstanding a subsequent change in the permanent duty station of the member to a location outside of the state. This bill would amend state law to conform with federal law granting a member of the Armed Forces, or his or her dependent, as provided, entitlement to resident classification for so long as he or she is continuously enrolled. The bill would request the Regents of the University of California to establish the same residency requirements as those established by this bill for students enrolled at the University of California. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: no. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 68074 of the Education Code is amended to read: 68074. (a)  (1)     An undergraduate   A  student who is a natural or adopted child, stepchild, or spouse who is a dependent of a member of the  armed forces   Armed Forces  of the United States stationed in this state on active duty  shall be   is  entitled to resident classification only for the purpose of determining the amount of tuition and fees.  (2) A student seeking a graduate degree who is a natural or adopted child, stepchild, or spouse who is a dependent of a member of the armed forces of the United States stationed in this state on active duty shall be entitled to resident classification only for the purpose of determining the amount of tuition and fees for no more than one academic year, and shall thereafter be subject to Article 5 (commencing with Section 68060).  (b) If that member of the  armed forces   Armed Forces  of the United States, whose dependent natural or adopted child, stepchild, or spouse is in attendance at an institution, (1) is thereafter transferred on military orders to a place outside this state where the member continues to serve in the armed forces of the United States, or (2) is thereafter retired as an active member of the  armed forces   Armed Forces  of the United States, the student dependent shall not lose his or her resident classification  until he or she has resided in the state the minimum time necessary to become a resident   so long as he or she remains continuously enrolled at that institution  . SEC. 2. Section 68075 of the Education Code is amended to read: 68075. (a)  An undergraduate   A  student who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in this state on active duty, except a member of the Armed Forces assigned for educational purposes to a state-supported institution of higher education, is entitled to resident classification only for the purpose of determining the amount of tuition and fees.  (b) A student seeking a graduate degree who is a member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed in this state on active duty, except a member of the Armed Forces assigned for educational purposes to a state-supported institution of higher education, shall be entitled to resident classification only for the purpose of determining the amount of tuition and fees for no more than two academic years, and shall thereafter be subject to Article 5 (commencing with Section 68060).   (b) If that member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is in attendance at an institution is thereafter transferred on military orders to a place outside this state where the member continues to serve in the Armed Forces of the United States, he or she shall not lose his or her resident classification so long as he or she remains continuously enrolled at that institution.  SEC. 3. The Legislature hereby requests the Regents of the University of California to establish the same residency classifications for students enrolled at the University of California as those enacted by this act. SEC. 4. 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.