Public postsecondary education: community colleges: exemption from nonresident tuition.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, under the administration of the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law establishes community college districts throughout the state, and authorizes them to operate campuses and provide instruction to students. Existing law authorizes community college districts to admit nonresident students, and requires that nonresident students be charged a nonresident tuition fee unless an exemption is applicable. Existing law authorizes a community college district to exempt from all or parts of the fee a special part-time student admitted pursuant to a specified concurrent or dual enrollment program. This bill instead would require a community college district to exempt a special part-time student, other than a nonimmigrant alien, as defined, from paying all or parts of the fee if that student is admitted pursuant to one of additionally specified concurrent or dual enrollment programs. Because the bill would require community college districts to determine whether students qualify for exemption from nonresident tuition, it would constitute 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.