BILL NUMBER: SB 1330INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Senator Hueso FEBRUARY 21, 2014 An act to add Section 68075.6 to the Education Code, relating to public postsecondary education, and making an appropriation therefor. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST SB 1330, as introduced, Hueso. Public postsecondary education: resident classification. Under existing law, the segments of the public postsecondary education system in the state include the California Community Colleges, administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, administered by the Trustees of the California State University, and the University of California, administered by the Regents of the University of California. Existing law requires, except as otherwise provided, a student classified as a nonresident to pay, in addition to other fees required by the public postsecondary institution, nonresident tuition. Existing law, the federal Yellow Ribbon Program, provides aid to cover up to 100% of out-of-pocket tuition and fees associated with education programs that may exceed the Post 9/11 GI Bill tuition benefit for a student who satisfies specified criteria. This bill would establish the California Yellow Ribbon Matching Fund, under the administration of the Student Aid Commission, and would appropriate $1,000,000 to the fund. Moneys in the fund would be continuously appropriated for purposes of paying a portion of a student's nonresident tuition, provided that the student is enrolled at the California Community Colleges, the California State University, or University of California, and is eligible for tuition and fee benefits under the federal Yellow Ribbon Program. The bill would also require that moneys disbursed to a student by the California Yellow Ribbon Matching Fund not exceed the amount the student is to receive under the federal Yellow Ribbon Program. The bill would only apply to the University of California if the Regents of the University of California adopt a policy to coordinate with the commission for purposes of the fund providing benefits to students enrolled at the University of California who meet the requirements of the fund. To the extent the bill would require community college districts to coordinate with the commission for purposes of paying a student's nonresident tuition, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program 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: 2/3. Appropriation: yes. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: yes. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 68075.6 is added to the Education Code, to read: 68075.6. (a) (1) The Legislature hereby appropriates one million dollars ($1,000,000) from the General Fund to the California Yellow Ribbon Matching Fund, which is hereby established. Moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated for the purposes of this section. (2) A student who has enrolled, or is intending to enroll, at a campus of the California Community Colleges, the California State University, or the University of California, who is eligible for tuition and fee benefits under Chapter 33 of the GI Bill, may receive moneys from the California Yellow Ribbon Matching Fund to cover a portion of the student's nonresident tuition not to exceed the total amount the student is to receive under Chapter 33 of the GI Bill. (3) The Student Aid Commission shall manage the fund and allocate moneys in the fund only as authorized in this section. (4) (A) The commission shall disburse funds, pursuant to paragraph (2), to the institution at which the student is enrolled. (B) The commission shall do all of the following: (i) Coordinate with the postsecondary institution to verify the student's nonresident tuition dues and the student's enrollment. (ii) Coordinate with the Department of Veterans Affairs to determine the amount of federal moneys the student is to receive pursuant to Chapter 33 of the GI Bill and, if the commission verifies the student is enrolled at the institution under clause (i), disburse an amount not to exceed the amount that the student is to receive under Chapter 33 of the GI Bill. (5) The California Yellow Ribbon Matching Fund shall not provide benefits to students who are eligible for an exemption from nonresident tuition under subdivision (b) of Section 68075.5. (6) This section shall only apply to the University of California if the Regents of the University of California adopt a policy, by resolution, to coordinate with the Student Aid Commission for purposes of the California Yellow Ribbon Matching Fund providing benefits to students enrolled at the University of California who meet the requirements in paragraph (2) of subdivision (a) 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.