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Panel advances Patterson bill to extend CalVet tuition waiver to campus-level mandatory fees for dependents of eligible veterans
Summary
AB 556, introduced by Assemblymember Patterson, would clarify that the existing CalVet tuition-and-fee waiver for dependents of disabled or fallen veterans covers campus-level mandatory fees currently charged by CSU and other campuses. Proponents said campus fees can total thousands and that some campuses have excluded mandatory campus fees;
Assemblymember Patterson presented AB 556 to clarify that the state's CalVet tuition waiver for dependents of certain veterans should cover campus-level mandatory fees that some campuses currently exclude.
Patterson said the bill restores what the author described as the original legislative intent that dependents of disabled veterans or those killed in action not be charged tuition or campus-level mandatory fees. "My constituents brought this idea to me," Patterson said, introducing Andy Sheehy, a Marine veteran and constituent who testified about his family’s experience at San Diego State University.
Andy Sheehy said the waiver language as implemented excluded campus fees at SDSU and left veteran families with unexpected mandatory charges. "We were taken aback by the number of mandatory fees that were excluded from the tuition and fee waiver program," Sheehy told the committee, and he urged lawmakers to "protect the will of those that came before you" to honor the promise to veterans.
Multiple veterans organizations and county veterans service officers testified in support; no principal witnesses registered formal opposition. Committee member concerns focused on fiscal effects for the California State University system. Assemblymember Avila Farias asked whether the bill would increase costs to CSUs by more than $20 million and where funding would come from. Patterson disputed the CSU fiscal estimate and said he would pursue more-precise campus-level fiscal data during Appropriations and would work with campus officials.
Assemblymember Jeff Gonzales stated he would abstain from the vote because the measure directly benefits his son, who is currently in college. The committee voted to pass AB 556 and re-refer it to the Assembly Appropriations Committee (recorded tally in committee: 6 yes, 0 no; one member recorded an abstention on the dais). The measure will be considered next in Appropriations, where fiscal impacts must be analyzed.
