AB 1285, as introduced, Fong. 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 and maximum levels for awards under these programs for participating students attending qualifying institutions. With respect to Cal Grant B Entitlement Awards, existing law requires that no more than 2% of new Cal Grant B recipients enrolling for the first time in an institution of postsecondary education are eligible for payments for tuition or fees, or both, in their first academic year of attendance.
This bill would delete the 2% limit for receipt of payments for tuition or fees, or both, for new Cal Grant B recipients in their first academic year of attendance at an institution of postsecondary education, thus making all of the Cal Grant B recipients eligible for these payments.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 69435 of the Education Code is amended
2to read:
(a) (1) A Cal Grant B award shall be used only for
4tuition, student fees, and access costs in a for-credit instructional
5program that is not less than one academic year in length.
6(2) The commission, or a qualifying institution pursuant to
7Article 8 (commencing with Section 69450), shall award access
8grants in a student’s first academic year. In subsequent years, the
9award shall include an additional amount to pay tuition or fees, or
10both, to attend college at a public or private four-year college or
11university or other qualifying institution for all Cal Grant B awards
12pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 66021.2.
13In no event shall the total award in any year exceed the applicant’s
14calculated financial need.
15(3) begin deleteNot more than 2 percent of new end deletebegin insertNew end insertCal Grant B recipients
16enrolling for the first time in an institution of postsecondary
17education shall be eligible for payments for tuition or fees, or both,
18in their first academic year of attendance. The commission shall
19adopt regulations specifying the criteria used to determine which
20applicants, if any, receive both tuition and fees plus the access
21grant in the first year of enrollment. Priority shall be given to
22students with the lowest expected family contribution pursuant to
23Section 69432.7 and the highest level of academic merit.
24(b) An award for access costs under this article shall be in an
25annual amount not to exceed one thousand five hundred
fifty-one
26dollars ($1,551). This amount may be adjusted in the annual Budget
27Act.
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