BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 1449
Page 1
CONCURRENCE IN SENATE AMENDMENTS
AB
1449 (Lopez)
As Amended August 18, 2016
Majority vote
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|ASSEMBLY: |74-1 |(January 25, |SENATE: |39-0 |(August 24, |
| | |2016) | | |2016) |
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Original Committee Reference: HIGHER ED.
SUMMARY: Exempts, beginning in the 2017-18 academic year, a
student from the high school graduation requirement of the
California Community College (CCC) Transfer Cal Grant
Entitlement Program, if the student was a California resident on
his or her 18th birthday.
The Senate amendments delay implementation of this bill to the
2017-18 academic year and make other clarifying changes,
including chaptering amendments should both this bill and SB
1314 (Block) of the current legislative session be enacted.
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
CCC to a qualifying baccalaureate-offering institution
(Education Code Section 69436). A student must meet specified
AB 1449
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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.
FISCAL EFFECT: According to the Senate Appropriations
Committee, CSAC costs are about $1.4 million in the first year,
growing to $2.5 million General Fund by full implementation (the
fourth year) and out years, to provide a CCC Transfer Cal Grant
Entitlement to students that would have otherwise been denied
due to not fulfilling the high school graduation requirement.
This estimate assumes 177 new recipients would be paid each
year. CSAC also reports estimated one-time administrative costs
of $183,000 General Fund to contract out to update applicable
recipient forms and to update the grant delivery system to
accommodate this change.
COMMENTS: 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
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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 (UC) or California State
University (CSU) campuses if a student has satisfied
requirements for upper-division transfer from a CCC. The author
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:
0004963