Public postsecondary education: exemption from paying nonresident tuition.

(1) Existing law exempts a student, other than a nonimmigrant alien, as defined, from nonresident tuition at the California State University and the California Community Colleges if the student has a total of 3 or more years of attendance, or attainment of equivalent credits earned while in California, at California high schools, California adult schools, campuses of the California Community Colleges, or a combination of those schools, as specified, or if the student completes 3 or more years of full-time high school coursework, and a total of 3 or more years of attendance in California elementary schools, California secondary schools, or a combination of California elementary and secondary schools. Notwithstanding the exclusion of nonimmigrant aliens from the exemption from paying nonresident tuition, the bill would provide that any student enrolled at the California State University or the California Community Colleges shall remain eligible for the exemption from nonresident tuition if the nonimmigrant alien met the requirements for the exemption from nonresident tuition as a dependent of an individual with an E-2 nonimmigrant classification as long as the student remains continuously enrolled, irrespective of any change in the student's visa or immigration status. Because the bill would impose new duties on community college districts with respect to determining eligibility for exemptions from paying nonresident tuition, the bill would constitute a state-mandated local program. The bill would request the Regents of the University of California to enact exemptions for its students from requirements to pay nonresident tuition that are equivalent to those applicable to students of the California Community Colleges and the California State University pursuant to this bill. (2) 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.