BILL NUMBER: AB 684	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  MARCH 21, 2013

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Medina

                        FEBRUARY 21, 2013

   An act relating to  student financial aid.  
workforce training. 



	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 684, as amended, Medina.  Student financial aid:
  Workforce training:  General Educational
Development (GED) test preparation  and career employment
training.   : grant   s. 
   Existing law establishes a system of public elementary and
secondary schools in this state, and authorizes school districts to
award high school diplomas to pupils who have met specified
requirements. Existing law also establishes various programs that
provide financial aid for qualifying students attending postsecondary
educational institutions.  Existing law establishes the
California Workforce Investment Board for, among other purposes,
promoting the development of a well-educated and highly skilled
workforce. 
   This bill would express the intent of the Legislature to 
enact legislation at the 2013-14 Regular Session that would make
students who were high school dropouts, and   provide
funding to institutions that offer instruction to persons who 
are preparing for the General Educational Development (GED) test
 , eligible for student financial aid to be used for both GED
test preparation and subsequent career employment training at a
postsecondary educational institution  .  The bill would
authorize the California Workforce Investme   nt Board to
provide grants from available federal and state funds to accredited
institutions that provide instruction to persons who are preparing
for the GED test and that apply to the board to receive grants
pursuant to these provisions. The bill would require the board to
develop and adopt regulations and procedures for the process of
receiving and evaluating applications for grants under these
provisions   . 
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee:  no
  yes  . State-mandated local program: no.


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

  SECTION 1.   It   (a)    
The Legislature finds and declares that it is important to increase
the number of Californians who obtain a marketable and
industry-recognized credential or degree and to advance the education
and training of these students and workers so that they can keep
pace with the education and skill needs of the state, its regional
economies, and leading industry sectors. 
    (b)     Therefore, it  is the intent
of the Legislature to  enact legislation at the 2013-14
Regular Session that would make students who were high school
dropouts, and   provide funding to institutions that
offer instruction to persons who  are preparing for the General
Educational Development (GED) test,  eligible for student
financial aid to be used for both GED test preparation and subsequent
career employment training at a postsecondary educational
institution   so that more Californians may pass the GED
test and become eligible to receive   financial aid to
advance in postsecondary education or vocational training  .
   SEC. 2.    The California Workforce Investment Board
established pursuant to Article 1 (commencing with Section 14010) of
Chapter 3 of Division 7 of the Unemployment Insurance Code is
authorized to provide grants, from state and federal funds that are
available to the board for this purpose, to accredited institutions
that provide instruction to persons who are preparing for the General
Educational Development (GED) test and that apply to the board to
receive grants pursuant to this section. The board shall develop and
adopt regulations and procedures for the process of receiving and
evaluating applications for grants   under this section.