BILL NUMBER: AB 1241	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Weber

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

   An act to amend Sections 69434 and 69435.3 of the Education Code,
relating to student financial aid.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1241, as introduced, Weber. Student financial aid: Cal Grant
Program.
   Existing law, the Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian-Vasconcellos Cal Grant
Program (Cal Grant Program), establishes the Cal Grant A and B
Entitlement Awards, the California Community College Transfer Cal
Grant Entitlement Awards, the Competitive Cal Grant A and B Awards,
the Cal Grant C Awards, and the Cal Grant T Awards under the
administration of the Student Aid Commission, and establishes
eligibility requirements for awards under these programs for
participating students attending qualifying institutions. Among the
eligibility requirements for the Cal Grant A and B Entitlement Awards
is a requirement that the applicant submit a complete financial aid
application postmarked no later than March 2 of the academic year of
high school graduation or its equivalent, or no later than March 2 of
the academic year following high school graduation or its
equivalent, for the 2nd award year.
   This bill would extend this period of eligibility by 3 years,
allowing an applicant for Cal Grant A and B Entitlement Awards to
submit a complete financial aid application no later than March 2 of
the 4th academic year after his or her high school graduation or its
equivalent for an award the academic year following the application.

   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 69434 of the Education Code is amended to read:

   69434.  (a) A Cal Grant A award shall be used only for tuition or
student fees, or both, in a for-credit instructional program with a
length of not less than two academic years. Each student who meets
the Cal Grant A qualifications as set forth in this article shall be
guaranteed an award. The amount of any individual award is dependent
on the cost of tuition or fees, or both, at the qualifying
institution at which the student is enrolled. For each applicant, the
award amount shall not exceed the amount of the calculated financial
need.
   (b) Pursuant to Section 66021.2, any California resident is
entitled to a Cal Grant A award, and the commission, or a qualifying
institution pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 69450),
shall allocate that award, if all of the following criteria are met:
   (1) The student has submitted, pursuant to Section 69432.9, a
complete financial aid application, submitted or postmarked no later
than March 2 of the  fourth  academic year  of
    after his or her  high school
graduation or its equivalent for the award year immediately following
the academic year of  high school graduation or its
equivalent, or no later than March 2 of the academic year following
high school graduation or its equivalent for the second award year
following the year of high school graduation or its equivalent
  the application  .
   (2) The student demonstrates financial need pursuant to Section
69433.
   (3) The student attains a high school grade point average of at
least 3.0 on a four-point scale.
   (4) The student's household has an income and asset level that
does not exceed the level for Cal Grant A recipients set forth in
Section 69432.7.
   (5) The student is pursuing an undergraduate academic program of
not less than two academic years that is offered by a qualifying
institution.
   (6) The student is enrolled at least part time.
   (7) The student meets the general Cal Grant eligibility
requirements set forth in Article 1 (commencing with Section 69430).
   (8) The student graduated from high school or its equivalent
during or after the 2000-01 academic year.
   (c) A student who meets the Cal Grant A Entitlement Program
criteria specified in this article shall receive a Cal Grant A award
for tuition or fees, or both, pursuant to Section 66021.2.
  SEC. 2.  Section 69435.3 of the Education Code is amended to read:
   69435.3.  (a) Any California resident is entitled to receive a Cal
Grant B award, and the commission shall allocate that award pursuant
to Section 66021.2, if all of the following criteria are met:
   (1) The student has submitted, pursuant to Section 69432.9, a
complete financial aid application, submitted or postmarked no later
than March 2 of the  fourth  academic year  of
  after his or her  high school graduation or its
equivalent for the award year immediately following the academic year
of  high school graduation or its equivalent, or no later
than March 2 of the academic year following high school graduation or
its equivalent for the second award year following the year of high
school graduation or its equivalent   the application
 .
   (2) The student demonstrates financial need pursuant to Section
69433.
   (3) The student attains a high school grade point average of at
least 2.0 on a four-point scale.
   (4) The student's household has an income and asset level that
does not exceed the level for Cal Grant B recipients as set forth in
Section 69432.7.
   (5) The student is pursuing an undergraduate academic program of
not less than one academic year that is offered by a qualifying
institution.
   (6) The student is enrolled at least part-time.
   (7) The student meets the general Cal Grant eligibility
requirements set forth in Article 1 (commencing with Section 69430).
   (8) The student graduated from high school or its equivalent
during or after the 2000-01 academic year.
   (b) A student who meets the Cal Grant B Entitlement Program
criteria specified in this article shall receive a Cal Grant B award
for access costs and tuition and fees pursuant to Section 66021.2.