BILL NUMBER: AB 1285	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Fong

                        FEBRUARY 22, 2013

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


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   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 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)  Not more than 2 percent of new   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. 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.