BILL NUMBER: AB 970	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Fong

                        FEBRUARY 18, 2011

   An act to amend Section 69435 of the Education Code, relating to
student financial aid.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 970, as introduced, Fong. Cal Grant B awards: award amount.
   Existing law, known as the Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian-Vasconcellos
Cal Grant Program, establishes the Cal Grant B Entitlement Awards
under the administration of the Student Aid Commission, and
establishes eligibility requirements for awards under these programs
for participating students attending qualifying institutions. The act
requires that the award be used only for tuition, student fees, and
access costs in a for-credit instructional program that is not less
than one academic year in length. Access grants are awarded in a
student's first academic year. The act provides that not more than 2%
of new Cal Grant B recipients be eligible for payments for tuition
or fees, or both, in their first academic year of attendance.
   This bill, during the 2012-13 academic year, would increase the
percentage of new Cal Grant B recipients eligible for payments for
tuition or fees, or both, in their first academic year of attendance
to 25%. The bill would increase this percentage to 50% for the
2013-14 academic year, and to 75% for the 2014-2015 academic year.
The bill would also provide that commencing with the 2015-16 academic
year, all new Cal Grant B recipients enrolling for the first time in
an institution of postsecondary education would be eligible for
payments for tuition or fees, or both, during their first academic
year.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: no.


THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:

  SECTION 1.  Section 69435 of the Education Code is amended to read:

   69435.  (a) (1) A Cal Grant B award shall be used only for
tuition, student fees, and access costs in a for-credit instructional
program that is not less than one academic year in length.
   (2) The commission, or a qualifying institution pursuant to
Article 8 (commencing with Section 69450), shall award access grants
in a student's first academic year. In subsequent years, the award
shall include an additional amount to pay tuition or fees, or both,
to attend college at a public or private four-year college or
university or other qualifying institution for all Cal Grant B awards
pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 66021.2. In
no event shall the total award in any year exceed the applicant's
calculated financial need.
   (3)  Not   (A)     During
the 2012-13 academic year, not  more than  2 
 25  percent of new Cal Grant B recipients enrolling for the
first time in an institution of postsecondary education shall be
eligible for payments for tuition or fees, or both, in their first
academic year of attendance.  The  
   (B) During the 2013-14 academic year, not more than 50 percent of
new Cal Grant B recipients enrolling for the first time in an
institution of postsecondary education shall be eligible for payments
for tuition or fees, or both, in their first academic year of
attendance.  
   (C) During the 2014-15 academic year, not more than 75 percent of
new Cal Grant B recipients enrolling for the first time in an
institution of postsecondary education shall be eligible for payments
for tuition or fees, or both, in their first academic year of
attendance.  
   (D) Commencing with the 2015-16 academic year, all new Cal Grant B
recipients enrolling for the first time in an institution of
postsecondary education shall be eligible for payment for tuition or
fees, or both, in their first academic year of attendance. 
    (E)     The  commission shall adopt
regulations specifying the criteria used to determine which
applicants, if any, receive both tuition and fees plus the access
grant in the first year of enrollment. Priority shall be given to
students with the lowest expected family contribution pursuant to
Section 69432.7 and the highest level of academic merit.
   (b) An award for access costs under this article shall be in an
annual amount not to exceed one thousand five hundred fifty-one
dollars ($1,551). This amount may be adjusted in the annual Budget
Act.