BILL ANALYSIS Ó
AB 2520
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Date of Hearing: April 12, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON HIGHER EDUCATION
Jose Medina, Chair
AB 2520
(Rodriguez) - As Amended March 15, 2016
SUBJECT: Student financial aid: Student Aid Commission
SUMMARY: Requires the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC)
to submit a report to the Legislature and the Governor by the
2017-18 academic year on measures to increase student
participation in state and federal financial aid programs.
Specifically, this bill:
1)Requires measures recommended by CSAC to include all of the
following:
a) At least one measure to ensure that each grade 12
California high school pupil receives adequate time and
faculty support to complete and submit the Free Application
for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during a required course in
the first semester of the pupil's grade 12 school year.
b) At least one measure to address the barrier of a student
who is unable to access his or her parents' financial
information in order to complete and submit the FAFSA. The
recommended measure or measures shall include a
recommendation for a sample statement that the student can
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sign stating that his or her parents' financial information
provided in the FAFSA represents the best information
available to the student.
c) Other measures identified by CSAC.
EXISTING LAW: Establishes CSAC and requires CSAC to administer
California's student financial aid programs. (Education Code
Section 69400 et seq.)
FISCAL EFFECT: Unknown
COMMENTS: Purpose of this bill. According to the author, the
rising cost of a higher education is burdensome for anyone
planning to attend college, but for low-income students it is
particularly discouraging. Although billions of dollars in
federal programs exists to help low-income students afford
college, many never receive assistance because they do not
complete the FAFSA. In 2014, the Education Trust-West (ETW) did
an analysis of the FAFSA and Cal Grant application data from
CSAC and found that, while the number of completions increased
from the previous year, there is still a large percentage of
eligible students that did not apply for financial aid. The
Institute for College Access and Success (TICAS) also found only
33% of California community college students apply for financial
aid, compared to 46% in other states.
Issues to consider. The author and Committee may wish to
consider the following issues and questions in reviewing the
reporting requirements of this bill:
1)Existing recommendations available. As noted by the author,
ETW has studied FAFSA and Cal Grant application rates in
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California; ETW has also made numerous recommendations to
improve those rates, several of which have already been
adopted in statute. Numerous other researchers and advocacy
organizations, including TICAS, have also made recommendations
for improving FAFSA completion rates. Is an additional report
necessary?
2)Other priorities for CSAC. CSAC has testified to the Assembly
Budget Subcommittee No. 2 that it faces serious challenges in
regards to needed technology upgrades and data security
improvements. CSAC is requesting funding to support
improvements in its grant delivery system. Considering other
issues facing CSAC, is this report a priority for the
Legislature?
3)School district responsibilities. This bill would require one
of the measures reviewed and recommended by CSAC to include
time and faculty support provided in high school for FAFSA
completion. Is it appropriate to direct CSAC, as opposed to
the Department of Education, to review and make
recommendations regarding school district FAFSA-related
activities? Should this bill move forward, the Committee may
wish to strike this specific provision from the scope of the
study.
4)Authority over FAFSA income data requirements. This bill
requires CSAC to make recommendations regarding the parental
income application requirements of the FAFSA. The US
Department of Education, not CSAC, has authority over the
FAFSA and the disclosures and questions it includes. Should
this bill move forward, the Committee may wish to consider
revising this provision.
REGISTERED SUPPORT / OPPOSITION:
AB 2520
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Support
Ready Nation (Sponsor)
Opposition
None on File
Analysis Prepared by:Laura Metune / HIGHER ED. / (916) 319-3960