AB 13 Summary

• Exempts students who were Armed Forces members stationed in California on active duty for more than one year from paying nonresident tuition for the duration of their residency after discharge, up to the minimum time needed to establish residency.

• Provides an alternative one-year nonresident tuition exemption for discharged veterans enrolled or intending to enroll at California Community Colleges or California State University if they file an affidavit stating intent to establish California residency, which must be used within two years of discharge.

• Requires California Community Colleges and California State University to update and adopt policies by July 1, 2015, ensuring veteran tuition rates comply with the federal Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014 and existing state law; requests the University of California to do the same.

• Prohibits former Armed Forces members who received a dishonorable or bad conduct discharge from receiving any nonresident tuition exemption under this section.

• Takes effect immediately as an urgency statute and provides for state reimbursement to local agencies if the Commission on State Mandates determines the bill imposes state-mandated costs.