Section 824.

(a) If requested by a student granted an academic leave of absence for military service, not later than one year after the student's release from military service, other than a dishonorable release, the institution in which the student is enrolled shall do one of the following, as elected by the student:

(1) The institution shall make arrangements to reasonably accommodate and assist the student so that he or she is able to meet any and all coursework requirements that he or she may have missed due to military service.

(2) The institution shall refund the tuition and fees paid by the student for the academic term in which the student is required to report for military service regardless of whether the student was called to military service before the academic term had commenced or after the academic term had commenced. The refund shall equal 100 percent of the tuition and fee charges the student paid the institution for the applicable academic term.

(b) If requested by a student granted an academic leave of absence for military service, not later than one year after the student's release from military service, other than a dishonorable release, the institution shall restore the student to the educational status the student had attained prior to being called to military service without loss of academic credits earned, scholarships or grants awarded, or tuition and other fees paid prior to the commencement of military service.

(c) If an institution fails to comply with this section, the student may bring an action against the institution to enforce its provisions in any court of competent jurisdiction of the county in which the student resides. If the student resides outside of this state, the action shall be brought in the court of the county in which the campus of the institution previously attended by the student is located. The court may award reasonable attorney's fees and expenses if the student prevails in the action.

(d) The Legislature hereby requests that the University of California adopt policies similar to those set forth in this section.

(e) For purposes of this section, "institution" includes any public postsecondary educational institution and any private postsecondary educational institution, as defined in Section 94858 of the Education Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 293, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2012.)