Summary
SB-916 extends the California Veteran Fee Waiver to also include extended education courses that fulfill an undergrad degree program in California public universities.
Background
The California Veteran Fee Waiver (CalVet Fee Waiver) is a California specific Veteran benefit for the spouses and children of military veterans. As long as the Veteran meets certain qualifications, the spouse and children of that Veteran, upon acceptance, can attend any California State University (CSU) or University of California (UC) school with no tuition, registration, or enrollment fees.
This unique benefit for Californian Veterans has undergone minor adjustments and changes since its passage into law back in 1976. While the original qualifications included level of disability and income status of the Veteran, through the past 47 years the CalVet Fee Waiver has now grown to incorporate only the income status of the spouse or child and requires that the Veteran did serve and was at least injured or disabled due to that service. The most recent amendment in 2023 incorporated the use of the State Poverty Level instead of the Federal Poverty Level, to ensure that applicants to the Fee Waiver were not unfairly held to the nationwide standard that is unfair to Californians.
Over the last nine years the CSU has averaged 9,419 students per semester under the CalVet Fee Waiver and the UC about half of that participation. These students have studied under and are currently working towards traditional undergraduate degrees and graduate degrees across the state through in-person learning and online education courses.
Extended education degree programs, hosted by public universities, are not covered under the CalVet Fee Waiver. Extended education is a program held as self-sustaining within the university through local partnerships and demand. These can range from unique business or health industry degrees and certificates to Wildfire Science degrees in support of CalFire.
Proposal
SB-916 will clarify the CalVet Fee Waiver to cover extended education courses that meet the requirements of an undergraduate degree program.