Public postsecondary education: fee waivers for exonerated persons.

Existing law prohibits the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, the Trustees of the California State University, and, if they adopt an appropriate resolution, the Regents of the University of California, from collecting mandatory systemwide tuition and fees from certain persons. Existing law prohibits collecting mandatory systemwide tuition and fees from any surviving spouse or child of a deceased state resident who was principally employed in law enforcement service or active fire suppression and prevention and died as a result of those duties. This bill would prohibit those institutions, and community college districts, from collecting mandatory systemwide tuition and fees from persons who are exonerated of crimes by writ of habeas corpus or pardon, as specified, and who meet certain requirements. By imposing new duties on community college districts with respect to determining eligibility for fee waivers, the bill 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.