Existing law establishes the University of California, administered by the Regents of the University of California, the California State University, administered by the Trustees of the California State University, and the California Community Colleges, administered by the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges, as the 3 segments of public postsecondary education in the state. The Donahoe Higher Education Act prohibits the campuses of those segments from charging mandatory systemwide tuition or fees to specified students who apply for a waiver, including a child of any veteran of the United States military who has a service-connected disability, has been killed in service, or has died of a service-connected disability, an undergraduate student who is a recipient of a Medal of Honor, or an undergraduate student who is a child of a recipient of a Medal of Honor and who is no more than 27 years of age, if certain requirements are satisfied.

This bill would additionally prohibit the campuses of the University of California and California State University from charging tuition or fees for specified students who enroll in an extended education course if certain requirements are satisfied and the extended education course is being used to meet the requirements of an undergraduate degree program. The bill would apply to the campuses of the University of California only to the extent that the Regents of the University of California, by appropriate resolution, make it apply.

Existing law establishes various student financial aid programs under the administration of the Student Aid Commission, including the California Military Department GI Bill Award Program. Existing law requires a qualifying member of the California National Guard, the State Guard, or the Naval Militia that receives an award under the program to, among other things, agree to use the award to obtain a certificate, degree, or diploma that the person does not hold at the time they apply for the award. Existing law authorizes the award to be used to obtain one baccalaureate, graduate, or doctoral degree or a certificate, degree, or diploma that leads to a baccalaureate, graduate, or doctoral degree.

This bill would authorize the award to also be used for an extended education course at a campus of the University of California or the California State University if the extended education course is being used to meet the requirements of an undergraduate degree program.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON

Senator Anna Caballero, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular Session

SB 60 (Seyarto) - Public postsecondary education: waiver of tuition and fees: California Military Department GI Bill Award Program: extended education courses

Bill Summary:

This bill requires the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) to waive tuition or fees for certain extended education courses for a student who is a dependent of a service-injured veteran, a medal of honor recipient, or a child of a medal of honor recipient. This bill also expands the uses of the California Military Department GI Bill award to cover fees associated with extended education courses that count toward an undergraduate degree at CSU or UC.

Fiscal Impact:

• The CSU indicates that if funding for self-supported extended education courses decrease as a result of fee waivers, there could be General Fund or special fund revenue losses, potentially in the hundreds of thousands of dollars each year. The CSU also indicates that these programs may no longer continue due to a lack of funding and could also result in other students absorbing the loss of revenue through increased tuition and student fees necessary to maintain the same level of funding to support the programs.
• The UC estimates General Fund costs ranging from $495,000 to $4.1 million each year. This estimate assumes a cost of $5,500 to $45,000 per extended education course, and that there would be 10 students taking one course at each of the nine campuses.
• By expanding the uses of the California Military Department GI Bill award to cover fees associated with extended education courses at a CSU or UC campus that count toward an undergraduate degree, this bill could potentially result in increased demand on the awards. The number of awards issued each year is currently limited to 1,000 service members and the amount per award varies depending on the education institution that the recipients attend.

Background:

Existing law authorizes the UC, CSU, and requires the CCC to collect fees from students attending those postsecondary education institutions. The law prohibits those segments from charging mandatory systemwide tuition or fees to specified students who apply for a waiver, including a child of any veteran of the United States military who has a service-connected disability, has been killed in service, or has died of a service-connected disability, where the annual income of the child, including the value of any support received from a parent, does not exceed the state poverty level.

Courses offered through extended education programs, also known as continuing education, extended education, and community service classes, are self-supported. These courses typically require students to pay fees that cover the entire cost of the course, without any financial support from the state. Self-supported programs include academic courses, professional certificate programs, and personal enrichment courses offered year-around. The fees for the courses may vary across different campuses.

Existing law establishes the California Military Department GI Bill Award Program for active members of the California National Guard, the State Guard, or the Naval Militia to use towards obtaining a certificate, degree, or diploma. In order to qualify for an award, current law requires that the member agree to serve at least two years upon completion of the last academic period that the person uses educational assistance under the program and is required to complete their course of study within 10 years of initial acceptance into the program. Existing law establishes eligibility criteria for an award and specifies the qualifying institutions for which the award may be used. Through an interagency agreement, the California Military Department authorizes the California Student Aid Commission to process and disburse award payments. Students apply through the California Guard, and participants can receive up to the amount of the Cal Grant A award for attending UC or CSU, up to the Cal Grant B award for attending a community college, or up to the UC Cal Grant A amount for attending a non-public institution.

Proposed Law:

This bill prohibits a campus of the UC and CSU from charging tuition or fees for extended education courses that count toward an undergraduate degree for dependents of service-injured military veterans, including veterans of the California National Guard and United States military, as specified, as well as for Medal of Honor recipients and their dependents.

This bill expands the uses of the California Military Department GI Bill award to cover fees associated with extended education courses at a CSU or UC campus that count toward an undergraduate degree.

Related Legislation:

SB 916 (Seyarto, 2024), similar to this bill, would have required UC and CSU to waive tuition or fees for certain extended education courses for a student who is a dependent of a service-injured veteran, a medal of honor recipient, or a child of a medal of honor recipient. SB 916 was held on the Suspense File in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

Staff Comments:

Current law prohibits public postsecondary institutions from applying certain fees to specified students who apply for a waiver, including a child of any veteran of the United States Military who has a service-connected disability, has been killed in service, or has died of a service-connected disability, or an undergraduate student who is a recipient of a Medal of Honor, or a child of a Medal of Honor recipient who is no more than 27 years old. The waiver for Medal of Honor recipients and dependents of service injured veteran pertains to fees linked to state-supported traditional degree programs. The state does not provide direct reimbursement to CSU or UC for waiving fees for these groups, including the dependents of service-injured veterans.

This bill would provide the same benefit and waive tuition or fees for self-supported extended education courses to students who would otherwise qualify for the Medal of Honor or dependents of service injured veteran wavier. Since these programs typically rely on student fees for course offerings, this bill could result in unknown General Fund or special fund revenue losses to UC and CSU to provide tuition and fee waivers for veteran students in extended education courses. The CSU estimates that the revenue loss could potentially be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars annually. As of Fall 2023, there are 9,097 students who qualified for the CalVet fee waiver and would be eligible under SB 60 to enroll in extended education courses. The CSU indicates that a decrease in revenue associated with a fee waiver could put at risk the ability to maintain course offerings and it could also result in other students absorbing the loss of revenue through increased tuition and student fees necessary to maintain the same level of funding to support the programs.

This bill also seeks to ensure that California Military Department GI Bill awards can be used for extended education courses. Currently, the CSU and the UC do not consider enrollment in most of their extended education programs to be the equivalent of enrollment in traditional programs. Therefore, enrollment in these programs may not qualify for GI Bill awards.

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON MILITARY AND VETERANS AFFAIRS

Senator Bob Archuleta, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular

Bill No: SB 60 Hearing Date: 4/28/25

Subject: Public postsecondary education: waiver of tuition and fees: California Military Department GI Bill Award Program: extended education courses

DESCRIPTION

Summary:

Prohibits the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) from charging tuition or fees for extended education courses that count toward an undergraduate degree for dependents of service-injured military veterans, Medal of Honor recipients, and their dependents. It also expands the uses of the California Military Department GI Bill award to cover fees associated with extended education courses that count toward an undergraduate degree at CSU or UC.

Existing law:

Existing federal law:

1. Establishes educational benefits for the spouse and children or both currently serving members of the Armed Forces of the United States and veterans, in such instances where the service member or veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability. (38 U.S. Code Section 3500, et seq.)

Existing state law:

1. Authorizes the CSU and requires the California Community Colleges (CCC) to collect fees from students attending those postsecondary education institutions. (Education Code (EC) § 89700 and §76300)
2. Prohibits UC, CSU, and CCC from charging mandatory systemwide tuition or fees to specified students who apply for a waiver, including a child of any veteran of the United States military who has a service-connected disability, has been killed in service, or has died of a service-connected disability, where the annual income of the child, including the value of any support received from a parent, does not exceed the state poverty level. (EC § 66025.3, et seq.)
3. Further prohibits UC, CSU, and CCC from charging mandatory systemwide tuition or fees to the surviving spouse or child of a deceased law enforcement or fire suppression personnel, as specified, and the surviving dependent of any California resident killed in the September 11, 2001 attack, as specified. The fee waivers are limited to undergraduate students who meet the specified financial need requirements. (EC § 68120 and EC § 68121)
4. Provides that statutes related to UC (and most other aspects of the governance and operation of UC) are applicable only to the extent that the Regents of UC make such provisions applicable. (EC § 67400 and 68134)
5. Establishes the California Military Department GI Bill Award Program for persons who are active members of the California National Guard, the State Guard, or the Naval Militia to use toward obtaining a certificate, degree, or diploma. In order to qualify for an award, current law requires that the member agree to serve at least two years upon completion of the last academic period that the person uses educational assistance under the program and is required to complete their course of study within 10 years of initial acceptance into the program. Existing law also establishes the eligibility criteria for an award and specifies the qualifying institutions for which the award may be used. (EC § 69999.16)
6. Establishes various educational benefits for dependents of veterans who were killed during military service or are totally disabled, as specified; defines “dependent of a veteran” to include the spouse of a totally disabled veteran; and prohibits a dependent of a veteran from receiving these educational benefits during the time the dependent is entitled to receive specified federal educational benefits or duplicative assistance from any other government source. (Military and Veterans Code (MVC) § 890, et seq.)

This bill:

1. Prohibits the UC and the CSU from charging tuition or fees for extended education courses that count toward an undergraduate degree for dependents of service-injured military veterans, including veterans of the California National Guard and United States military as specified, as well as for Medal of Honor recipients and their dependents.
2. Expands the uses of the California Military Department GI Bill award to cover fees associated with extended education courses at a CSU or UC campus that count toward an undergraduate degree.

BACKGROUND

The California Military Department GI Bill Award Program is a state-funded grant for active service members in the California Military Department or the California Naval Militia. It is designed as an educational incentive to improve skills, competencies, and abilities for up to 1,000 service members (as the budget allows) to remain active. This grant is not based on financial need. Through an interagency agreement, the California Military Department authorized the California Student Aid Commission to process and disburse award payments. Students apply through the California Guard, and participants can receive up to the amount of the Cal Grant A award for attending UC or CSU, up to the Cal Grant B award for attending a community college, or up to the UC Cal Grant A amount for attending a non-public institution.

According to information posted on the CalVet website, the CSU and the UC do not consider enrollment in most of their extended education programs to be the equivalent of enrollment in traditional programs, and therefore enrollment in the extended education programs may not qualify for the California Military Department GI Bill Award program. It is unclear which specific programs accept an award payment. This bill aims to ensure CA GI Bill awards can be used for extended education courses.

COMMENT

Expanding waiver eligibility for undergraduate degree courses in extended education could help facilitate access to higher education for students seeking a nontraditional educational delivery model. The proposed expansion may simplify the waiver program for applicants, as they will no longer have to make distinctions between state-supported and self-supported undergraduate degree programs to access the benefit. Further, this bill’s provisions appear to be consistent with the core principles of the original statute, seeking to acknowledge dependents impacted by a military service-related incident by offering a tuition-free degree at a public university or college. Similarly, the expanded use of the California Military Department GI Bill award for extended education courses seems to align with that program.

According to the author: “We need to keep up with the changing landscape in education and the benefits military families receive to advance their quality of life. This is an easy way to show that continued support and provide clarification to the benefits these families deserve.”

Under the current language of the law, CSU’s who have created extended education degree programs, are using the phrase of “mandatory systemwide tuition or fees” to exclude these degree programs from the CalVet Fee Waiver Program. This application of the law is not in keeping with the intent of the CalVet Fee Waiver Program and denies degree opportunities that are not otherwise available, such as the Bachelors of Science in Wildfire Science. By clarifying under the law that undergraduate degree programs, that are extended education courses, are actually covered under the CalVet Fee Waiver, this could close any misinterpretation of the intent as set forth by the Legislature.

Argument in support:

California has long been a leader in providing educational benefits to veterans, service members, and their families, recognizing that access to higher education is essential for a successful transition to civilian life. However, current policies exclude extended education courses such as those tailored for working professionals and individuals pursuing careers in high-demand fields despite their importance in helping veterans complete their degrees in a flexible manner. This restriction undermines the intent of the CalVet Fee Waiver and other efforts, which were designed to ease financial burdens for military families attending UC and CSU institutions.

Many extended education programs prepare students for careers in critical fields such as business, healthcare, and wildfire science, where veterans’ leadership and experience are invaluable. By explicitly including these programs within the scope of education benefits, SB 60 will ensure that veterans and National Guard members can access the full range of opportunities they need to succeed in their post-service careers.

By passing SB 60, California will remove an unnecessary obstacle for veterans and their families, reaffirming the state’s commitment to those who have served. Expanding access to higher education strengthens California’s workforce, helps veterans transition into meaningful careers, and ensures military families receive the benefits they have rightfully earned.

Argument in opposition:

SB 60 would provide a waiver for tuition and fees for veterans and their dependents seeking to enroll in the CSU’s extended education programs. It is important to recognize that the CSU’s extended extension programs are self-support programs. The funds to pay for these academic programs are 100% paid for by student tuition and fees, as self-support programs do not receive support from the state’s general Chair Pérez March 14, 2025 Page Two fund like the vast majority of the CSU’s other degree programs. Existing waivers for veterans and their dependents are provided under state-supported programs. Since the state is contributing to those programs, it is appropriate for the state to provide waivers. However, since the state is not providing any source of funding for extended education programs, any loss of revenue to support the programs adds risks to the sustainability of the programs.

The CSU and its 23 universities remain absolutely committed to working with our veterans and their families to provide the educational opportunities they desire. Unfortunately, SB 60 would create unintended consequences and jeopardize our university’s ability to deliver educational programming without the necessary resources to maintain those programs. For these reasons, we respectfully ask for your “no” vote on SB 60.

POSITIONS

Sponsor: Author.

Support: American Legion, Department of California
AMVETs, Department of California
California Association of County Veterans Service Officers
California State Commanders Veterans Council
Military Officers Association of America, California Council of Chapters
Vietnam Veterans of America, California State Council

Oppose: California State University, Office of the Chancellor

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Sasha Renée Pérez, Chair

2025 - 2026 Regular

Bill No: SB 60 Hearing Date: March 19, 2025

Subject: Public postsecondary education: waiver of tuition and fees: California Military Department GI Bill Award Program: extended education courses.

NOTE: This bill has been referred to the Committees on Education and Military and Veterans Affairs. A “do pass” motion should include referral to the Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs.

SUMMARY

This bill prohibits the University of California (UC) and the California State University (CSU) from charging tuition or fees for extended education courses that count toward an undergraduate degree for dependents of service-injured military veterans, as well as for Medal of Honor recipients and their dependents. It also expands the uses of the California Military Department GI Bill award to cover fees associated with extended education courses that count toward an undergraduate degree at CSU or UC.

BACKGROUND

Existing federal law:

1. Establishes educational benefits for the spouse and children or both currently serving members of the Armed Forces of the United States and veterans, in such instances where the service member or veteran is permanently and totally disabled due to a service-connected disability, or died while on active duty or as a result of a service-connected disability. (38 U.S. Code Section 3500, et seq.)

Existing state law:

1. Authorizes the CSU and requires the California Community Colleges

(CCC) to collect fees from students attending those postsecondary education institutions. (Education Code (EC) § 89700 and §76300)

1. Prohibits UC, CSU, and CCC from charging mandatory systemwide tuition or fees to specified students who apply for a waiver, including a child of any veteran of the United States military who has a service-connected disability, has been killed in service, or has died of a service-connected disability, where the annual income of the child, including the value of any support received from a parent, does not exceed the state poverty level. (EC § 66025.3, et seq.)
2. Further prohibits UC, CSU, and CCC from charging mandatory systemwide tuition or fees to the surviving spouse or child of a deceased law enforcement or fire suppression personnel, as specified, and the surviving dependent of any California resident killed in the September 11, 2001 attack, as specified. The fee waivers are limited to undergraduate students who meet the specified financial need requirements. (EC § 68120 and EC § 68121)
3. Provides that statutes related to UC (and most other aspects of the governance and operation of UC) are applicable only to the extent that the Regents of UC make such provisions applicable. (EC § 67400 and 68134)
4. Establishes the California Military Department GI Bill Award Program for persons who are active members of the California National Guard, the State Guard, or the Naval Militia to use toward obtaining a certificate, degree, or diploma. In order to qualify for an award, current law requires that the member agree to serve at least two years upon completion of the last academic period that the person uses educational assistance under the program and is required to complete their course of study within 10 years of initial acceptance into the program. Existing law also establishes the eligibility criteria for an award and specifies the qualifying institutions for which the award may be used. (EC § 69999.16)
5. Establishes various educational benefits for dependents of veterans who were killed during military service or are totally disabled, as specified; defines “dependent of a veteran” to include the spouse of a totally disabled veteran; and prohibits a dependent of a veteran from receiving these educational benefits during the time the dependent is entitled to receive specified federal educational benefits or duplicative assistance from any other government source. (Military and Veterans Code (MVC) § 890, et seq.)

ANALYSIS

This bill:

1. Prohibits the UC and the CSU from charging tuition or fees for extended education courses that count toward an undergraduate degree for dependents of service-injured military veterans, including veterans of the California National Guard and United States military as specified, as well as for Medal of Honor recipients and their dependents.
2. Expands the uses of the California Military Department GI Bill award to cover fees associated with extended education courses at a CSU or UC campus that count toward an undergraduate degree.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “We need to keep up with the changing landscape in education and the benefits military families receive to advance their quality of life. This is an easy way to show that continued support and provide clarification to the benefits these families deserve.”
2. California Military Department GI Bill Award Program. The California Military Department GI Bill Award Program is a state-funded grant for active service members in the California Military Department or the California Naval Militia. It is designed as an educational incentive to improve skills, competencies, and abilities for up to 1,000 service members (as the budget allows) to remain active. This grant is not based on financial need. Through an interagency agreement, the California Military Department authorized the California Student Aid Commission to process and disburse award payments. Students apply through the California Guard, and participants can receive up to the amount of the Cal Grant A award for attending UC or CSU, up to the Cal Grant B award for attending a community college, or up to the UC Cal Grant A amount for attending a non-public institution. According to information posted on the CalVet website, the CSU and the UC do not consider enrollment in most of their extended education programs to be the equivalent of enrollment in traditional programs, and therefore enrollment in the extended education programs may not qualify for the California Military Department GI Bill Award program. It is unclear which specific programs accept an award payment. This bill aim to ensure CA GI Bill awards can be used for extended education courses.
3. Makes self-supported courses eligible for fee waiver. This bill also seeks to address extended education course fees at a California public higher education institution (UC and CSU) for certain military-connected students. Extended education is also known as continuing education, university extension, or community service classes, with all attempting to convey that they are distinct from traditional academic programs in their admission requirements, funding model, and course enrollment costs. Extended education programs can include academic, professional certificate, and personal enrichment courses. Programs typically feature classes available throughout the year, including nights, and weekends. Widespread availability of remote learning options is also a defining feature of extended education. Flexibility in course scheduling enhance its appeal to individuals who are employed full-time, working professionals, adult learners or those who have families. Extended education students pay fees to cover the entire cost of a course, since programs typically operate without any financial support from the state. As such, they are described as self-supported programs. In contrast, traditional academic courses are supported by a mix of state funding and student tuition fees. Existing law requires CSU and UC to waive fees associated with traditional academic programs for Medal of Honor recipients and dependents of a service-injured veteran. The waiver requirement does not apply to extended education courses. This bill seeks to ensure that that benefit is also offered to qualifying students in an undergraduate extended education program.
4. What effect will this have on colleges? The bill’s dual objectives of expanding two different types of student aid benefits may have varying impacts on colleges, with the waiver presenting the greatest challenge. As noted in the background of this analysis, current law prohibits public postsecondary institutions from applying certain fees to service-injured veterans and their dependents or Medal of Honor recipients and their dependents. These fee exemptions or waivers apply to systemwide fees associated with traditional academic programs. It appears that the state has provided partial reimbursement to CSU for waiving those fees as a result of recent amendments that broadened qualifying criteria. The 2024 Budget Act, AB 107 (Gabriel, Chapter 22, Statutes of 2024) provided ongoing funds to support expanded fee waiver costs for Medal of Honor recipients, their children and dependents of service injured veterans attending CSU. This bill would establish precedent for prohibiting the charging of fees for students in self-supported courses (extended education). Colleges heavily rely on fees to operate extended education programs and without the ability to charge fees to some individuals or if future legislation were to follow suit seeking a similar benefit for other groups, the sustainability of these offerings may be at risk.
5. The effect on students. Expanding waiver eligibility for undergraduate degree courses in extended education could help facilitate access to higher education for students seeking a nontraditional educational delivery model. The proposed expansion may simplify the waiver program for applicants, as they will no longer have to make distinctions between state-supported and self-supported undergraduate degree programs to access the benefit. Further, this bill’s provisions appear to be consistent with the core principles of the original statute, seeking to acknowledge dependents impacted by a military service-related incident by offering a tuition-free degree at a public university or college. Similarly, the expanded use of the California Military Department GI Bill award for extended education courses seems to align with that program.
6. Prior legislation.

SB 916 (Seyarto, 2024), similar to this bill, would have required UC and CSU to waive tuition or fees for certain extended education courses for a student who is a dependent of a service-injured veteran, a medal of honor recipient, or a child of a medal of honor recipient. Unlike this bill, SB 916 did not include changes to California Military Department GI Bill Award Program. SB 916 was held Suspense in Assembly Appropriations.

SUPPORT

California Association of County Veterans Service Officers

OPPOSITION

California State University, Office of the Chancellor

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