Public postsecondary education: community colleges: refugees and holders of certain special immigrant visas: exemption from paying 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 3 segments of public postsecondary education in this state. Existing law exempts students who have been granted special immigrant visas pursuant to specified federal statutes, or are refugees admitted to the United States under a specified federal statute, and who, upon entering the United States, settled in California, from paying nonresident tuition at the California Community Colleges, as specified. This bill would require each community college to post a notice on its Internet Web site that sets forth which persons are exempt from paying nonresident tuition pursuant to the provision described above. Because the bill would create new duties for community colleges, 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 the statutory provisions noted above.