(1)Existing law prohibits the Board of Directors of the Hastings College of the Law, 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 any surviving spouse or surviving child of a deceased person who was a resident of the state and employed by or contracting with a public agency, whose principal duties consisted of active law enforcement service or active fire suppression and prevention, and who died as a result of his or her duties, as specified.

This bill would require the Hastings College of Law, and each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University that has an Internet Web site, and, in the event that the regents adopt an appropriate resolution, each campus of the University of California that has an Internet Web site, to provide an online posting or notice of systemwide fee or tuition waivers available to students pursuant to the provision described above. The bill would require that the online posting or notice be accessible through a prominent direct link to an application for a waiver of the systemwide fee or tuition, that the direct link appear on the primary Web page of the financial aid section of the campus Web site, and that the direct link be accompanied by a description of eligibility requirements for the waiver of the systemwide fee or tuition, as specified.

To the extent that this bill would impose new duties on community college districts, it would constitute a state-mandated local program.

(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.

(1)Existing law prohibits the Board of Directors of the Hastings College of the Law, 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 any surviving spouse or surviving child of a deceased person who was a resident of the state and employed by or contracting with a public agency, whose principal duties consisted of active law enforcement service or active fire suppression and prevention, and who died as a result of his or her duties, as specified.

This bill would require the Hastings College of Law, and each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University that has an Internet Web site, and, in the event that the regents adopt an appropriate resolution, each campus of the University of California that has an Internet Web site, to provide an online posting or notice of systemwide fee or tuition waivers available to students pursuant to the provision described above. The bill would require that the online posting or notice be accessible through a prominent direct link to an application for a waiver of the systemwide fee or tuition, that the direct link appear on the primary Web page of the financial aid section of the campus Web site, and that the direct link be accompanied by a description of eligibility requirements for the waiver of the systemwide fee or tuition, as specified.

To the extent that this bill would impose new duties on community college districts, it would constitute a state-mandated local program.

(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.

(1)Existing law prohibits the Board of Directors of the Hastings College of the Law, 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 any surviving spouse or surviving child of a deceased person who was a resident of the state and employed by or contracting with a public agency, whose principal duties consisted of active law enforcement service or active fire suppression and prevention, and who died as a result of his or her duties, as specified.

This bill would require the Hastings College of Law, each campus of the California Community Colleges Colleges, and the California State University that has an Internet Web site, and, in the event that the regents adopt an appropriate resolution, each campus of the University of California that has an Internet Web site, to provide an online posting or notice of systemwide fee or tuition waivers available to students pursuant to the provision described above. The bill would require that the online posting or notice be accessible through a prominent direct link to an application for a waiver of the systemwide fee or tuition, that the direct link appear on the primary Web page of the financial aid section of the campus Web site, and that the direct link be accompanied by a description of eligibility requirements for the waiver of the systemwide fee or tuition, as specified.

To the extent that this bill would impose new duties on community college districts, it would constitute a state-mandated local program.

(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.

(1)Existing law prohibits the Board of Directors of the Hastings College of the Law, 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 any surviving spouse or surviving child of a deceased person who was a resident of the state and employed by or contracting with a public agency, whose principal duties consisted of active law enforcement service or active fire suppression and prevention, and who died as a result of his or her duties, as specified.

This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to ensure that there is proper notice given to qualifying individuals of the exemption from mandatory systemwide tuition and fees described above. require each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University that has an Internet Web site, and, in the event that the regents adopt an appropriate resolution, each campus of the University of California that has an Internet Web site, to provide an online posting or notice of systemwide fee or tuition waivers available to students pursuant to the provision described above. The bill would require that the online posting or notice be accessible through a prominent direct link to an application for a waiver of the systemwide fee or tuition, that the direct link appear on the primary Web page of the financial aid section of the campus Web site, and that the direct link be accompanied by a description of eligibility requirements for the waiver of the systemwide fee or tuition, as specified.

Existing law prohibits the Board of Directors of the Hastings College of the Law, 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 any surviving spouse or surviving child of a deceased person who was a resident of the state and employed by or contracting with a public agency, whose principal duties consisted of active law enforcement service or active fire suppression and prevention, and who died as a result of his or her duties, as specified.

This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to ensure that there is proper notice given to qualifying individuals of the exemption from mandatory systemwide tuition and fees described above.

 CONSENT  

Bill No: AB 2990

Author:

:

Vote:

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE: 6-0, 6/6/18

AYES: Allen, Wilk, Galgiani, Leyva, Pan, Vidak

SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE: Senate Rule 28.8

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0, 4/26/18 (Consent) - See last page for vote

SUBJECT:

SOURCE: Author

DIGEST:

This bill requires each campus of the California Community Colleges (CCC) and the California State University (CSU), and each campus of the University of California (UC), to place a link on the campus Web site, as specified, describing the availability of an exemption from mandatory tuition and systemwide fees for an eligible surviving dependent of a deceased firefighter or law enforcement officer.

ANALYSIS:

Existing law:

1. Authorizes the UC, CSU and requires the CCC to collect fees from students attending those postsecondary education institutions. (Education Code (EC) § 89700)
2. Provides that no mandatory systemwide fees or tuition of any kind be collected by the UC, CSU or the CCCs from any surviving spouse or child, natural or adopted, of a deceased person who met all of the following requirements:
   1. Was a California resident.
   2. Was employed by a public agency to provide active law enforcement or fire suppression/prevention services.
   3. Was killed in the performance of active duty. (EC § 68120 et seq.)
3. Requires that any determination of eligibility, as specified, shall be consistent with any findings of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, using the same procedures as in workers’ compensation hearings, as to whether the death of the person, as specified, was industrial. (EC § 68120.5)

This bill:

1. Requires each campus of the CCC and the CSU, and each campus of the UC, if so directed by the UC regents, to place a notification on the campus Web site, as specified, describing the availability of an exemption from mandatory tuition and systemwide fees for an eligible surviving dependent of a deceased firefighter or law enforcement officer.
2. Requires that the notification appear on the financial aid section of the campus Web site and include a direct link to the application for the fee or tuition waiver, as specified.
3. Establishes if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, the state shall reimburse the applicable entities.

Comments

1. Need for the bill. Existing law provides that no mandatory systemwide fees or tuition of any kind be collected by the UC (if so directed by the UC regents ), CSU or the CCC from any surviving spouse or child of a deceased firefighter or law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty. This exemption is known as the Alan Pattee Scholarship Act.

According to the author, “important information regarding the availability of the Alan Pattee waiver may not be readily available on each campus’s website per a recent survey of campuses conducted by the California Fire Foundation. Consequently, qualified public safety survivors may be prevented from taking advantage of this important benefit.

Ultimately, such a disparity is especially problematic given that in the years following the job-caused death of a public safety officer, access to college can be instrumental in a surviving spouse’s ability to effectively achieve economic stability for the family or for a surviving child to realize their full potential in the aftermath of their parent’s tragedy.”

This bill seeks to ensure qualifying students enrolled at public postsecondary institutions are aware of their eligibility for the tuition and fee waiver under the Alan Pattee Scholarship Act.

1. Number of Mandatory fee and tuition waivers granted at CSU. As noted, current law prohibits public postsecondary institutions from applying certain fees to various groups impacted by a tragic event. According to CSU, in 2016-17 the system waived $184,007 in tuition and fees for 34 undergraduates and graduates. Staff was unable to find similar data for CCC.

Related/Prior Legislation

AB 2554 (Bonta, 2018) expands the existing tuition and fee exemption to also apply to an eligible surviving dependent of a firefighter employed by the federal government who was a resident of California and whose duty assignment involved performance of firefighting duties in California.

FISCAL EFFECT: Appropriation: Fiscal Com.: Local:

SUPPORT: (Verified 6/26/18)

California Fire Chiefs Association

California Professional Firefighters

California State Firefighters’ Association

Fire Districts Association of California

Western Association for College Admission Counseling

OPPOSITION: (Verified 6/26/18)

None received

ASSEMBLY FLOOR: 74-0, 4/26/18

AYES: Acosta, Aguiar-Curry, Arambula, Baker, Berman, Bigelow, Bloom, Bonta, Brough, Burke, Caballero, Calderon, Carrillo, Cervantes, Chau, Chávez, Chen, Chiu, Choi, Chu, Cooley, Cooper, Cunningham, Dahle, Daly, Eggman, Flora, Frazier, Friedman, Gallagher, Eduardo Garcia, Gipson, Gloria, Gonzalez Fletcher, Gray, Grayson, Harper, Holden, Irwin, Jones-Sawyer, Kalra, Kamlager-Dove, Kiley, Lackey, Levine, Limón, Low, Maienschein, Mathis, Mayes, McCarty, Medina, Melendez, Mullin, Muratsuchi, Nazarian, Obernolte, O'Donnell, Patterson, Quirk, Quirk-Silva, Reyes, Rubio, Salas, Santiago, Steinorth, Mark Stone, Thurmond, Ting, Voepel, Waldron, Weber, Wood, Rendon

NO VOTE RECORDED: Travis Allen, Fong, Cristina Garcia, Rodriguez

Prepared by:

6/27/18 10:23:42

**** END ****

SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Benjamin Allen, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: AB 2990 Hearing Date: June 6, 2018

Subject: Public postsecondary education: exemption from tuition and fees for qualifying survivors of deceased public safety and fire suppression personnel: notice.

SUMMARY

This bill requires each campus of the California Community Colleges (CCC) and the California State University (CSU), and each campus of the University of California (UC), to place a link on the campus website, as specified, describing the availability of an exemption from mandatory tuition and systemwide fees for an eligible surviving dependent of a deceased firefighter or law enforcement officer.

BACKGROUND

Existing law:

1. Authorizes the UC, CSU and requires the CCC to collect fees from students attending those postsecondary education institutions. (Education Code (EC) § 89700)
2. Provides that no mandatory systemwide fees or tuition of any kind be collected by the UC, CSU or the CCCs from any surviving spouse or child, natural or adopted, of a deceased person who met all of the following requirements.
   1. Was a California resident.
   2. Was employed by a public agency to provide active law enforcement or fire suppression/prevention services.
   3. Was killed in the performance of active duty. (EC § 68120 et seq.)
3. Requires that any determination of eligibility, as specified, shall be consistent with any findings of the Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, using the same procedures as in workers’ compensation hearings, as to whether the death of the person, as specified, was industrial. (EC § 68120.5)

ANALYSIS

This bill:

1. Requires each campus of the CCC and the CSU, and each campus of the UC, if so directed by the UC regents, to place a notification on the campus website, as specified, describing the availability of an exemption from mandatory tuition and systemwide fees for an eligible surviving dependent of a deceased firefighter or law enforcement officer.
2. Requires that the notification appear on the financial aid section of the campus website and include a direct link to the application for the fee or tuition waiver, as specified.
3. Establishes if the Commission on State Mandates determines that this act contains costs mandated by the state, the state shall reimburse the applicable entities.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. Existing law provides that no mandatory systemwide fees or tuition of any kind be collected by the University of California (UC) (if so directed by the UC regents ), California State University (CSU) or the California Community Colleges (CCC) from any surviving spouse or child of a deceased firefighter or law enforcement officer who was killed in the line of duty. This exemption is known as the Alan Pattee Scholarship Act.

According to the author, “important information regarding the availability of the Alan Pattee waiver may not be readily available on each campus’s website per a recent survey of campuses conducted by the California Fire Foundation. Consequently, qualified public safety survivors may be prevented from taking advantage of this important benefit.

Ultimately, such a disparity is especially problematic given that in the years following the job-caused death of a public safety officer, access to college can be instrumental in a surviving spouse’s ability to effectively achieve economic stability for the family or for a surviving child to realize their full potential in the aftermath of their parent’s tragedy.”

This bill seeks to ensure qualifying students enrolled at public postsecondary institutions are aware of their eligibility for the tuition and fee waiver under the Alan Pattee Scholarship Act.

1. Number of Mandatory fee and tuition waivers granted at CSU. As noted, current law prohibits public postsecondary institutions from applying certain fees to various groups impacted by a tragic event. According to CSU, in 2016-17 the system waived $184,007 in tuition and fees for 34 undergraduates and graduates. Staff was unable to find similar data for CCC.
2. Related legislation. AB 2554 (Bonta), also on today's committee agenda, expands the existing tuition and fee exemption to also apply to an eligible surviving dependent of a firefighter employed by the federal government who was a resident of California and whose duty assignment involved performance of firefighting duties in California.

SUPPORT

Western Association for College Admission Counseling

California Professional Firefighters

California State Firefighters’ Association

California Fire Chiefs Association

Fire Districts Association of California

OPPOSITION

None received

-- END --

Date of Hearing: April 18, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2990

Author:(Low) – As Amended Ver:April 5, 2018

Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: Yes Reimbursable: Yes

SUMMARY: This bill requires Hastings College of Law and each campus of the California Community Colleges (CCC) and the California State University (CSU), and each campus of the University of California (UC) if so directed by the UC Regents, to place a link on the financial aid section of the campus website describing the exemption from mandatory tuition and systemwide fees for an eligible survivor of a state or local public agency firefighter or law enforcement officer whose death was work related. It also would require the website provide an application for this exemption.

FISCAL EFFECT:

Potential one-time General Fund costs in the low thousands of dollars for CCC, CSU, and UC to provide this information on their campuses’ websites. The state would need to reimburse these costs for CCC, were the Commission on State Mandates to find these requirements to be a reimbursable state mandate.

COMMENTS:

Background. The Alan Pattee Scholarship Act of 1970 was created in order to assist surviving family members of firefighters and law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. The Act waives all mandatory tuition and systemwide fees at UC, Hastings, CSU, and the CCC for these survivors. AB 2164 (O'Donnell), of the 2015-16 Legislative Session, expanded the eligibility for this tuition exemption to survivors of firefighters and law enforcement officers who died as a result of an industrial injury or illness arising out of and in the course of performing their duties.

Purpose. According to the author, important information regarding the availability of the Alan Pattee waiver may not be readily available on each campus’s website, per a recent survey of campuses conducted by the California Fire Foundation. The author is thus concerned that qualified public safety survivors may be unable to take advantage of this benefit.

Related Legislation. AB 2554 (Bonta), also of this legislative session, expands the existing tuition and fee exemption to also apply to an eligible survivor of a firefighter employed by the federal government who was a resident of California and whose duty assignment involved performance of firefighting duties in California.

Analysis Prepared by: Natasha Collins / APPR. / (916) 319-2081

Date of Hearing: April 3, 2018

ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION

Jose Medina, Chair

ABPCA Bill Id:AB 2990 (

Author:Low) – As Amended Ver:March 20, 2018

SUBJECT: Public postsecondary education: exemption from tuition and fees for qualifying survivors of deceased public safety and fire suppression personnel: notice

SUMMARY: Requires each campus of the California Community Colleges (CCC) and the California State University (CSU), and each campus of the University of California (UC) if so directed by the UC Regents, to place a link on the campus website, as specified, describing the availability of an exemption from mandatory tuition and systemwide fees for an eligible survivor of a state or local public agency firefighter or law enforcement officer who died in the line of duty, as specified under current law.

EXISTING LAW: Provides that no mandatory systemwide fees be required by the UC Regents, the Board of Directors of Hastings College of Law, the CSU Trustees, or the Board of Governors of the CCC from any surviving spouse or child, of a deceased person, who met all of the following requirements:

1. He or she was a resident of this state;
2. He or she was employed by a state or local public agency, or was a contractor, or an employee of a contractor, performing services for a public agency;
3. His or her principal duties consisted of active law enforcement service or active fire suppression and prevention; and,
4. He or she was killed in the performance of active law enforcement or active fire suppression and prevention duties, died as a result of an accident or an injury caused by external violence or physical force during the performing those duties, or died as a result of an industrial injury or illness arising out of and in the course of performing those duties. (Education Code Section 68120)

FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown. State reimbursable mandate for community college costs.

COMMENTS: Background. The Alan Pattee Scholarship Act of 1970 was created in order to assist surviving family members of firefighters and law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty. The Act waives all mandatory tuition and systemwide fees at UC, Hastings, CSU and the CCC for these survivors. Chapter 435/Statutes of 2016 (AB 2164, O'Donnell) expanded the eligibility for this tuition exemption to survivors of firefighters and law enforcement officers who died as a result of an industrial injury or illness arising out of and in the course of performing their duties.

Purpose. According to the author, important information regarding the availability of the Alan Pattee waiver may not be readily available on each campus’s website, per a recent survey of campuses conducted by the California Fire Foundation. The author is thus concerned that qualified public safety survivors may be unable to take advantage of this important benefit. The author notes this lack of notification can be especially problematic given that, in the years following the job-caused death of a public safety officer, access to college can be instrumental in a surviving spouse’s ability to effectively achieve economic stability for the family or for a surviving child to realize their full potential in the aftermath of their parent’s tragedy. AB 2554 is intended to ensure that the website of every campus includes information about the existence of the tuition and fee exemption for these survivors.

Recommended Amendment. Since the Hastings College of the Law is included under the Pattee Act, it should be included under this measure's notification requirement.

On page 2, line 3 strike out "Each" and insert, "The Hastings College of the Law, each".

Related Legislation. AB 2554 (Bonta), also on today's committee agenda, expands the existing tuition and fee exemption to also apply to an eligible survivor of a firefighter employed by the federal government who was a resident of California and whose duty assignment involved performance of firefighting duties in California.

REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:

Support

California Professional Firefighters (sponsor)

California State Firefighters' Association

Camp Pendleton Professional Firefighters

Opposition

None of file.

Analysis Prepared by: Chuck Nicol / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960