Assembly Bill 13 would grant in-state tuition to all GI Bill recipients

Oceanside CA– Thursday August 8, 2014, President Obama signed House of Representatives Bill (H.R.) 3230, a measure that, in part, will require all public institutions of higher learning to grant all GI Bill recipients in-state tuition for any course enrolled in after July 1, 2015 or forfeit all Title 38 funding. As a result, Assemblymember Rocky Chávez (R-Oceanside) today announced he would be amending Assembly bill 13 to bring California Colleges in compliance with the H.R. 3230, and request the bill be heard during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing on August 14, 2014. Amendments to AB 13 will request the UCs and require all CSUs and California Community Colleges to grant in-state-tuition to all persons using the Title 38 funds (GI Bill recipients) regardless of their residency status. Nationally, 28 states currently offer similar residency waivers.
“Over the past few years many Veterans have been unable to attend our State’s Colleges and Universities because the GI Bill won’t cover out-of-state tuition. If California fails to act, over 50,000 California Veterans attending a UC, CSU or CCC have the potential of losing their GI Bill benefits,” said Chávez.
AB 13 has garnered wide-spread support by several organizations. These include numerous Community College Districts, the California Community College Chancellor’s Office, the Department of Defense, the United Ways of California and most of the California Veterans Service Organizations. It received unanimous, bi-partisan support through the Assembly and can be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee.
“The President’s signing of H.R. 3230 demonstrates the need to act quickly since UC and CSU application deadlines for Fall 2015 enrollment is in three short months. It is my hope that my fellow California Senate and Assemblymembers will come together to support this important piece of legislation. Our Veterans deserve the opportunity to use their GI Bill and attend our State’s great colleges. This bill is simply the right thing to do.”