AB 1540: Postsecondary education: nonresident tuition: exemption.

Existing law exempts a student, except as specified, from paying nonresident tuition at the California State University and the California Community Colleges if, among other conditions, the student has a total of 3 or more years of full-time attendance in certain California schools or attainment of equivalent credits earned while in those schools, as specified, or the student completes 3 or more years of full-time high school coursework in California and a total of 3 or more years of attendance in California elementary schools or California secondary schools, and, in the case of a person without lawful immigration status, has filed an affidavit with the institution of higher education stating that the student has filed an application to legalize the students immigration status, or will file an application as soon as the student is eligible to do so.

This bill would require the California State University and California Community Colleges, and request the University of California and independent institutions of higher education, to accept an affidavit provided to the Student Aid Commission as part of the students financial aid application for purposes of the affidavit requirement described above, as specified. By imposing new duties on 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.