BILL ANALYSIS
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|SENATE RULES COMMITTEE | SB 957|
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THIRD READING
Bill No: SB 957
Author: Price (D), et al
Amended: 5/3/10
Vote: 21
SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE : 6-0, 3/24/10
AYES: Romero, Huff, Alquist, Liu, Price, Simitian
NO VOTE RECORDED: Hancock, Maldonado, Wyland
SENATE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE : 8-1, 4/26/10
AYES: Kehoe, Alquist, Corbett, Denham, Leno, Price, Wolk,
Yee
NOES: Cox
NO VOTE RECORDED: Walters, Wyland
SUBJECT : Cal Grant C
SOURCE : Author
DIGEST : This bill requires the California Student Aid
Commission (CSAC) to develop and regularly update areas of
occupational and technical training that are eligible for
Cal Grant C awards, expands the entities with which CSAC is
required to consult in this process, and requires the CSAC
to give priority in granting the Cal Grant C to students
pursuing study in areas of high employment need, high
salary or wage projection, or high growth, as specified.
ANALYSIS : Current law authorizes the Cal Grant Program,
administered by CSAC, to provide grants to financially
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needy students to attend college.
Cal Grant C awards assist with tuition and training costs
at occupational or vocational programs and may be used for
institutional fees, charges, and other costs, including
tuition, plus training-related costs, such as special
clothing, local transportation, required tools, equipment,
supplies, and books. Current law establishes the total
number of Cal Grant C awards as the number awarded in the
2000-01 fiscal year (7,761) with the maximum award amount
and the total amount of funding being determined in the
annual Budget Act.
Current law requires CSAC to consult with appropriate state
and federal agencies order to determine areas of
occupational or technical training in which the Cal Grant C
can be awarded and authorizes CSAC to use criteria it deems
appropriate to select students to receive grants. CSAC is
also required to take into account other state and federal
programs available to the applicant. The Cal Grant C may
be renewed until the completion of the training, up to a
maximum of two calendar years.
This bill requires CSAC to develop, and regularly review
and update at least every five years, the areas of
occupational or technical training for which students may
utilize Cal Grant C awards. This bill requires CSAC to
give priority in granting the awards to students pursuing
occupational or technical training in areas that meet
specified criteria. This bill requires the Legislative
Analyst's Office to submit a report to the Governor and the
Legislature, containing specified data on the outcomes of
the Cal Grant C Program, on or before April 1, 2014, and on
or before April 1 of each even-numbered year thereafter.
FISCAL EFFECT : Appropriation: No Fiscal Com.: Yes
Local: No
Unknown with the latest amendments.
SUPPORT : (Verified 5/3/10)
University of California Student Association
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ARGUMENTS IN SUPPORT : According to the author's office,
although the Cal Grant C program awards almost 8,000 grants
annually for occupational and technical training, these
awards do not track well with the state's most urgent labor
needs. This bill has been introduced to ensure that CSAC
strategically directs Cal Grant C funds to recipients
seeking occupations in areas with high employment demand,
growth potential, wages and/or importance to California's
strategic initiatives. This bill will maximize the
opportunities for Californians to acquire the necessary job
skills to gain and keep employment.
PQ:mw 5/3/10 Senate Floor Analyses
SUPPORT/OPPOSITION: SEE ABOVE
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