BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1449
Page 1
ASSEMBLY THIRD READING
AB
1449 (Lopez)
As Amended January 13, 2016
Majority vote
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|Committee |Votes|Ayes |Noes |
| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Higher |13-0 |Medina, Baker, Bloom, | |
|Education | |Chávez, Irwin, | |
| | |Jones-Sawyer, Levine, | |
| | |Linder, Low, Olsen, | |
| | |Santiago, Weber, | |
| | |Williams | |
| | | | |
|----------------+-----+----------------------+--------------------|
|Appropriations |17-0 |Gomez, Bigelow, | |
| | |Bloom, Bonilla, | |
| | |Bonta, Calderon, | |
| | |Chang, Daly, Eggman, | |
| | |Gallagher, Eduardo | |
| | |Garcia, Holden, | |
| | |Jones, Quirk, Wagner, | |
| | |Weber, Wood | |
| | | | |
| | | | |
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AB 1449
Page 2
SUMMARY: Authorizes a student to meet the California Community
College Cal Grant Transfer Entitlement (Transfer Entitlement)
award requirement of high school graduation or equivalency by,
if the student has not graduated from high school or
equivalency, being a California resident on his or her 18th
birthday.
EXISTING LAW: Establishes the Transfer Entitlement,
administered by the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), to
provide Cal Grant A or B awards to residents transferring from a
California Community College (CCC) to a qualifying
baccalaureate-offering institution (Education Code Section
69436). A student must meet specified eligibility criteria,
including:
1)Complete the financial aid application by March 2 of the year
prior to the award year.
2)Demonstrate financial need and meet household income/asset
limits, as specified.
3)Attend a CCC in the academic year immediately preceding the
academic year for which the award will be used, earn a grade
point average (GPA) of at least 2.4, meet transfer eligibility
requirements, and be pursuing a baccalaureate degree at a
qualifying institution.
4)Not be 28 years old or older by December 31 of the award year.
5)Graduate from a California high school or equivalent during or
after 2000-01.
AB 1449
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FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Assembly Appropriations
Committee, CSAC reports that in 2014-15 319 applicants were
denied a Transfer Entitlement due to lack of high school
graduation or equivalent. Assuming there are 300 such
applicants on average each year 85% of these applicants would
obtain an award pursuant to this bill, first-year General Fund
costs, assuming an average award of $8,000, would be about $2
million. Annual costs thereafter would be around $4 million.
COMMENTS: Background. The Transfer Entitlement provides
financially needy California students whom did not receive a Cal
Grant A or B award after leaving high school with a "second
chance" to receive an award upon transfer to a qualifying
institution. To receive an award, applicants must meet
eligibility requirements, submit the Free Application for
Federal Student Aid and the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form, and
complete and return a Certification Form that includes
information on high school attendance and graduation, CCC
attendance, and California residency. In 2013-14, 13,018
students were offered a Transfer Entitlement Cal Grant A, and
39,471 were offered a Transfer Entitlement Cal Grant B.
According to CSAC, the typical Transfer Entitlement awardee is
23 years old, has a household income of $24,511, a GPA of 3.08
and a family size of 2.8.
Purpose of this bill. According to the author, California has
established an unnecessary barrier for nontraditional low-income
transfer students by requiring Transfer Entitlement award
recipients to possess a California high school diploma or
equivalent. The author notes that CCCs are required to admit
all California students over the age of 18 regardless of whether
they have obtained a high school diploma or equivalency.
Further, a high school diploma or equivalency is not a
requirement for admittance at University of California or
California State University campuses if a student has satisfied
requirements for upper-division transfer from a CCC. The author
AB 1449
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argues that access to state and federal financial aid plays a
crucial role in a student's academic success. This bill seeks
to allow CCC transfer students to access the Transfer
Entitlement award regardless of whether they have obtained a
high school diploma or its equivalency.
Analysis Prepared by:
Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960 FN:
0002583