BILL NUMBER: SB 361AMENDED BILL TEXT AMENDED IN SENATE MAY 6, 2009 AMENDED IN SENATE APRIL 13, 2009 INTRODUCED BY Senator Runner FEBRUARY 25, 2009 An act to amend Section 66025.8 of the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 361, as amended, Runner. Public postsecondary education: priority registration: Armed Forces and State Military Reserve service. (1) Existing law requires the California State University and each community college district, and requests the University of California, with respect to each campus in their respective jurisdictions that administers a priority enrollment system, to grant priority for registration for enrollment to any member or former member of the Armed Forces of the United States for any academic term attended at one of these institutions within 2 years of leaving active duty. This bill would specify that these priority registration provisions apply to any member or former member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has received an honorable discharge and to any member or former member of the State Military Reserve. The bill also would define "Armed Forces of the United States" for purposes of the priority registration provisions. By establishing revised requirements relating to student eligibility for priority registration for community college districts, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (2) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these statutory provisions. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 66025.8 of the Education Code is amended to read: 66025.8. (a) The California State University and each community college district shall, and the University of California is requested to, with respect to each campus in their respective jurisdictions that administers a priority enrollment system, grant priority in that system for registration for enrollment to any member or former member of the Armed Forces of the United States who has received an honorable discharge, and to any member or former member of the State Military Reserve, for any academic term attended at one of these institutions within two years of leaving state or federal active duty. (b) (1) For purposes of this section, "Armed Forces of the United States" means the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, National Guard, Naval Militia, Navy, and the reserve components of each of those forces, including the California National Guard. (2) As used in this section, "member or former member of the Armed Forces of the United States" includes, but is not necessarily limited to, any student who is called to active military duty compelling that student to take an academic leave of absence. SEC. 2. 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.