BILL NUMBER: AB 1781 AMENDED
BILL TEXT
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 11, 2014
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, in consultation with the Military Department. Existing
law provides that a qualifying member is eligible to receive 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 per summer session or intersession term.
provide that a qualifying member who meets those conditions may
be eligible to receive an award for a summer session term if the
member submits a letter from his or her unit commander that states
that the summer session will not adversely impact the member's
attendance at mandatory military training. The bill also would
state various legislative findings, declarations, and intent
the intent of the Legislature 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. SECTION 1. 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.
SEC. 3. SEC. 2. 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) (1) A qualifying member shall meet all
of the following conditions to be eligible to receive a California
National Guard Education Assistance Award:
(1)
(A) The person is a resident within the meaning of
Section 68017.
(2)
(B) 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)
(C) The person has been accepted or registered at, or
enrolled in, a qualifying institution, as defined in subdivision (l)
of Section 69432.7.
(4)
(D) 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, or
per summer session or intersession term. thereof.
(5)
(E) The person has submitted the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to the United States Department of
Education.
(2) To be eligible for an award for a summer session term, a
qualifying member who meets the conditions in paragraph (1) shall
submit a letter from his or her unit commander that states that the
member's enrollment in that summer session will not adversely impact
the member's attendance at mandatory military training.
(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.