BILL NUMBER: AB 970	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MAY 27, 2011

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Fong

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

    An act to amend Section 69435 of the Education Code,
relating to   An act relating to  student financial
aid.



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 970, as amended, Fong.  Cal Grant B awards: award
amount.   Student financial aid: report.  
   Existing law establishes various student financial aid programs
under the administration of the Student Aid Commission, and
establishes eligibility requirements for the receipt of awards under
those programs for participating students attending qualifying
institutions.  
   This bill would require the commission, no later than July 31,
2012, to provide a report to the Legislature that details the
policies and interactions between various state and federal financial
aid programs, including the interaction between systemwide and
campus-based student fees, institutional financial aid at the
University of California and the California State University, Cal
Grants, and federal financial aid programs.  
   Existing law, known as the Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian-Vasconcellos
Cal Grant Program, establishes the Cal Grant B Entitlement Awards
under the administration of the Student Aid Commission, and
establishes eligibility requirements for awards under these programs
for participating students attending qualifying institutions. The act
requires that the award be used only for tuition, student fees, and
access costs in a for-credit instructional program that is not less
than one academic year in length. Access grants are awarded in a
student's first academic year. The act provides that not more than 2%
of new Cal Grant B recipients be eligible for payments for tuition
or fees, or both, in their first academic year of attendance.
 
   This bill, during the 2012-13 academic year, would increase the
percentage of new Cal Grant B recipients eligible for payments for
tuition or fees, or both, in their first academic year of attendance
to 25%. The bill would increase this percentage to 50% for the
2013-14 academic year, and to 75% for the 2014-2015 academic year.
The bill would also provide that commencing with the 2015-16 academic
year, all new Cal Grant B recipients enrolling for the first time in
an institution of postsecondary education would be eligible for
payments for tuition or fees, or both, during their first academic
year. 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

   SECTION 1.    (a) It is the intent of the Legislature
that financially needy students be able to access public colleges
and universities.  
   (b) No later than July 31, 2012, the Student Aid Commission shall
provide a report to the Legislature that details the policies and
interactions between the various state and federal financial aid
programs, including the interaction between systemwide and
campus-based student fees, institutional financial aid at the
University of California and the California State University, Cal
Grants, and federal financial aid programs.  
   (c) A report submitted pursuant to subdivision (b) shall be
submitted in compliance with Section 9795 of the Government Code.
 
   (d) This section is inoperative on January 1, 2016, pursuant to
Section 10231.5 of the Government Code.  
  SECTION 1.   Section 69435 of the Education Code
is amended to read:
   69435.  (a) (1) A Cal Grant B award shall be used only for
tuition, student fees, and access costs in a for-credit instructional
program that is not less than one academic year in length.
   (2) The commission, or a qualifying institution pursuant to
Article 8 (commencing with Section 69450), shall award access grants
in a student's first academic year. In subsequent years, the award
shall include an additional amount to pay tuition or fees, or both,
to attend college at a public or private four-year college or
university or other qualifying institution for all Cal Grant B awards
pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 66021.2. In
no event shall the total award in any year exceed the applicant's
calculated financial need.
   (3) (A) During the 2012-13 academic year, not more than 25 percent
of new Cal Grant B recipients enrolling for the first time in an
institution of postsecondary education shall be eligible for payments
for tuition or fees, or both, in their first academic year of
attendance.
   (B) During the 2013-14 academic year, not more than 50 percent of
new Cal Grant B recipients enrolling for the first time in an
institution of postsecondary education shall be eligible for payments
for tuition or fees, or both, in their first academic year of
attendance.
   (C) During the 2014-15 academic year, not more than 75 percent of
new Cal Grant B recipients enrolling for the first time in an
institution of postsecondary education shall be eligible for payments
for tuition or fees, or both, in their first academic year of
attendance.
   (D) Commencing with the 2015-16 academic year, all new Cal Grant B
recipients enrolling for the first time in an institution of
postsecondary education shall be eligible for payment for tuition or
fees, or both, in their first academic year of attendance.
   (E) The commission shall adopt regulations specifying the criteria
used to determine which applicants, if any, receive both tuition and
fees plus the access grant in the first year of enrollment. Priority
shall be given to students with the lowest expected family
contribution pursuant to Section 69432.7 and the highest level of
academic merit.
   (b) An award for access costs under this article shall be in an
annual amount not to exceed one thousand five hundred fifty-one
dollars ($1,551). This amount may be adjusted in the annual Budget
Act.