BILL NUMBER: SB 451	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Senator Price

                        FEBRUARY 16, 2011

   An act to amend Section 69439 of the Education Code, relating to
student financial aid.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SB 451, as introduced, Price. Student financial aid: Cal Grant C
awards.
   Existing law, the Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian-Vasconcellos Cal Grant
Act, establishes the Cal Grant C Program under the administration of
the Student Aid Commission and establishes eligibility requirements
for awards under this program. The act requires that a Cal Grant C
award be used only for occupational or technical training, as
defined, in a course of not less than 4 months. The act requires the
commission, after consultation with state and federal agencies, to
determine the areas of occupational or technical training for which
Cal Grant C awards shall be awarded.
   This bill would require the Student Aid Commission to develop, and
regularly review and update at least every 5 years, the areas of
occupational or technical training for which students may utilize Cal
Grant C awards. The bill would require the commission to give
priority in granting the awards to students pursuing occupational or
technical training in areas that meet specified criteria. The bill
would require the commission to publish, and retain, on its Internet
Web site, a current list of the areas of occupational or technical
training meeting those specified criteria. The bill would require the
Legislative Analyst's Office to submit a report to the Governor and
the Legislature, containing specified data on the outcomes of the Cal
Grant C Program, on or before April 1, 2015, and on or before April
1 of each odd-numbered year thereafter.
   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.  Section 69439 of the Education Code is amended to read:

   69439.  (a)  Commencing with the 2001-02 academic year,
and each academic year thereafter, a   A  Cal Grant
C award shall be utilized only for occupational or technical
training in a course of not less than four months. There shall be the
same number of Cal Grant C awards each year as were made in the
2000-01 fiscal year. The maximum award amount and the total amount of
funding shall be determined each year in the annual Budget Act.
   (b) "Occupational or technical training" means that phase of
education coming after the completion of a secondary school program
and leading toward recognized occupational goals approved by the
commission.
   (c) The commission may use criteria it deems appropriate in
selecting students with occupational talents to receive grants for
occupational or technical training.
   (d) The Cal Grant C  award  recipients shall be eligible
for renewal of their grants until they have completed their
occupational or technical training in conformance with terms
prescribed by the commission. In no case shall the grants exceed two
calendar years.
   (e) Cal Grant C awards shall be for institutional fees, charges,
and other costs, including tuition, plus training-related costs, such
as special clothing, local transportation, required tools,
equipment, supplies, and books. In determining the amount of grants
and training-related costs, the commission shall take into account
other state and federal programs available to the applicant. 
   (f) (1) To ensure alignment with the state's dynamic economic
needs, the commission, in consultation with appropriate state and
federal agencies, shall develop areas of occupational and technical
training for which students may utilize Cal Grant C awards. The
commission, if necessary, may also consult with nongovernmental
stakeholders that develop or provide workforce training or employ
graduates of occupational and technical training programs for this
purpose.  
   (2) The areas of occupational and technical training developed
pursuant to paragraph (1) shall be regularly reviewed and updated at
least every five years, beginning in 2012.  
   (3) The commission shall give priority in granting Cal Grant C
awards to students pursuing occupational or technical training in
areas that meet at least two of the following criteria:  
   (A) High employment need.  
   (B) High employment salary or wage projections.  
   (C) High employment growth.  
   (f)  Cal Grant C awards 
    (g)     The commission  shall 
be awarded   determine areas of occupational or
technical training that meet the criteria described  in 
paragraph (3) of subdivision (f) in consultation with the Employment
Development Department using projections available through the Labor
Market Information Data Library. The commission shall publish, and
retain, on its Internet Web site a current list of the  areas of
occupational or technical training as determined by
  that meet  the  commission after
consultation with appropriate state   criteria described
in paragraph (3) of subdivision (f),  and  federal
agencies.   update this list as necessary.  
   (h) The Legislative Analyst's Office shall submit a report to the
Governor and the Legislature on the outcomes of the Cal Grant C
Program on or before April 1, 2015, and on or before April 1 of each
odd-numbered year thereafter. This report shall include, but not
necessarily be limited to, information on the age, gender, segment of
attendance, the occupational and technical training program
categories prioritized, and the number and percentage of students who
received selection priority as defined in paragraph (3) of
subdivision (f).