BILL NUMBER: AB 1781	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN SENATE  MAY 23, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Linder
    (   Coauthors:   Assembly Members 
 Chávez,   Grove,   and Melendez   )


                        FEBRUARY 18, 2014

   An act to amend Section 69999.16 of the Education Code, relating
to postsecondary education.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 1781, as amended, Linder. California National Guard Education
Assistance Award Program.
   Existing law establishes the California National Guard Education
Assistance Award Program, which provides financial aid to qualifying
members of the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve,
and the Naval Militia  ,  under the administration of the
Student Aid  Commission. Under existing law, a qualified
member, as defined, of the California National Guard and State
Military Reserve   Commission, in consultation with the
Military Department. Existing law provides that a qualifying member
 is eligible to receive  financial assistance under the
program   an award  if, among other conditions, the
person enrolls in at least 3 academic units per semester, or the
equivalent thereof.
   This bill would revise this eligibility condition to specify that
it is satisfied by a person enrolling in at least 3 academic units
 for a   per  summer session or
intersession term.  The bill also would state various legislative
findings, declarations, and intent relating to these provisions.

   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.    The Legislature finds and declares both
of the following:  
   (a) The California National Guard Education Award Assistance
Program is a highly effective student-soldier assistance program
emphasizing certification, program, and degree completion.  

   (b) Student-soldiers are strongly encouraged to seek available
academic advising services to create their academic schedule and
program with the goal of working towards a certification or degree.

   SEC. 2.    It is the intent of the Legislature to
build upon the success of the California National Guard Education
Award Assistance Program by providing student-soldiers more
flexibility in achieving their academic goals. 
   SECTION 1.   SEC. 3.   Section 69999.16
of the Education Code is amended to read:
   69999.16.  (a) Commencing January 1 of the 2009-10 academic year,
and each academic year thereafter, any qualifying member of the
California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or the Naval
Militia may apply for a California National Guard Education
Assistance Award.
   (b) A qualifying member shall meet all of the following conditions
to be eligible to receive a California National Guard Education
Assistance Award:
   (1) The person is a resident within the meaning of Section 68017.
   (2) The person is an active member of, and has served two years
in, the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or the
Naval Militia.
   (3) The person has been accepted or registered at, or enrolled in,
a qualifying institution, as defined in subdivision (l) of Section
69432.7.
   (4) The person agrees to use the award to obtain a certificate,
degree, or diploma that he or she does not hold at the time he or she
applies for the award, and enrolls in at least three academic units
per semester, or the equivalent thereof,  including 
 or per  summer session  and   or
 intersession  terms.   term. 
   (5) The person has submitted the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) to the United States Department of Education.
   (c) Each person applying for a California National Guard Education
Assistance Award shall submit an application for an award to the
Adjutant General.
   (d) The Adjutant General shall do all of the following:
   (1) Annually identify the skills most needed by the California
National Guard to retain members who possess, or seek to possess,
those identified skills.
   (2) Prioritize those applicants who qualify for an award pursuant
to subdivision (b) based on the skills most needed by the California
National Guard, as identified pursuant to paragraph (1).
   (3) Select award recipients from among eligible applicants
pursuant to subdivision (e).
   (4)  Certify the eligibility of applicants to the Student Aid
Commission.
   (5) Notify recipients of their selection for an award.
   (e) The Adjutant General shall select recipients who have been
judged by the Adjutant General to have outstanding ability on the
basis of criteria that may include, but shall not be limited to, any
of the following:
   (1) The Military Occupational Specialty Code or the Air Force
Specialty Code.
   (2) An annual noncommissioned officer evaluation report or officer
evaluation report of the preceding two years.
   (3) A memorandum from the applicant's commander recommending the
applicant for the award.
   (4) Commendations the applicant has received.
   (5) An essay, written by the applicant, explaining why education
is important to the applicant.
   (f) The number of awards issued by the Student Aid Commission in
any fiscal year shall be limited to the number authorized in the
annual Budget Act for that year, but in no event shall exceed 1,000
in any fiscal year.
   (g) The Student Aid Commission shall issue the awards in
accordance with Section 69999.18.