BILL ANALYSIS Ó
SB 1314
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Date of Hearing: August 3, 2016
ASSEMBLY COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS
Lorena Gonzalez, Chair
SB 1314
(Block) - As Amended August 1, 2016
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|Policy |Higher Education |Vote:|13 - 0 |
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Urgency: No State Mandated Local Program: NoReimbursable: No
SUMMARY:
This bill provides that California Community College (CCC)
students participating in a baccalaureate degree pilot program,
who meet all other eligibility criteria, are eligible to receive
a Cal Grant award covering upper division coursework fees or a
Middle Class Scholarship for two years of full-time upper
division coursework.
FISCAL EFFECT:
SB 1314
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1)Estimated General Fund costs of $1.4 million in 2016-17, $2.7
million in 2017-18, and $3.1 million in 2018-19 for Cal Grants
and Middle Class Scholarship awards, based on an estimated
381,702, and 803 total recipients, respectively. Costs will
continue until the pilot program sunsets in 2022-23. Cost will
continue if the program is extended and will increase if the
program is expanded to additional districts.
2)CSAC will have annual administrative costs (General Fund) of
about $90,000 for one position.
COMMENTS:
Background and Purpose. CCC students who meet income and other
eligibility requirements can have their student fees waived
under the Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOGFW) program. Cal
Grants awarded to CCC students therefore do not cover tuition
and fees. Additionally, the Middle Class Scholarship program is
specifically limited to support students at CSU and UC.
SB 850 (Block), Chapter 747, Statutes of 2014, authorized the
CCC to establish a statewide baccalaureate degree pilot program
at not more than 15 districts. In addition to the $46 per unit
statutory enrollment fee at the CCC, SB 850 authorized these
districts to charge an $84 per unit fee for upper division
coursework in the pilot program. Therefore, students enrolled in
the pilot program will be assessed tuition and fees not
currently covered by the BOGFW. This bill provides CSAC the
authority to disperse Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship
awards to CCC upper division students who meet all other
SB 1314
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qualifications of these financial aid programs.
According to the author, "The lack of clarity in current law
could create issues of inequity in that some upper division
students would not be able to receive state financial assistance
as other students and thereby would reduce the possibility of
completing a four-year course of study because of financial
need. This bill would remove any ambiguity in statute and ensure
that all students enrolled in a four-year course of study at a
CCC would enjoy access to California's financial aid programs."
Analysis Prepared by:Chuck Nicol / APPR. / (916)
319-2081