Public postsecondary education: veterans: priority registration.

Existing law establishes the California Community Colleges, the California State University, and the University of California as the 3 segments of public institutions of higher education in the state. Existing law requires the California State University and each community college district, and requests the University of California, to grant priority registration for enrollment to a member or former member of the Armed Forces of the United States who is a resident of California and to any member or former member of the State Guard, as specified, for any academic term attended at one of these institutions for 4 academic years after leaving state or federal active duty for use within 15 years of leaving state or federal active duty. This bill would instead require, and request, these institutions to grant the priority registration for any academic term attended at one of these institutions during any period for which the student is eligible for educational benefits under the federal Montgomery GI Bill, the Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008, or the Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment program. To the extent that this bill would create new duties for community college districts, the bill would impose 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.