AB 1781, as introduced, Linder. California National Guard Education Assistance Award Program.
Existing law establishes the California National Guard Education Assistance Award Program, which provides financial aid to qualifying members of the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, and the Naval Militia under the administration of the Student Aid Commission. Under existing law, a qualified member, as defined, of the California National Guard and State Military Reserve is eligible to receive financial assistance under the program if, among other conditions, the person enrolls in at least 3 academic units per semester, or the equivalent thereof.
This bill would revise this eligibility condition to specify that it is satisfied by a person enrolling in at least 3 academic units for a summer session or intersession term.
Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.
The people of the State of California do enact as follows:
Section 69999.16 of the Education Code is
2amended to read:
(a) Commencing January 1 of the 2009-10 academic
2year, and each academic year thereafter, any qualifying member
3of the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or
4the Naval Militia may apply for a California National Guard
5Education Assistance Award.
6(b) A qualifying member shall meet all of the following
7conditions to be eligible to receive a California National Guard
8Education Assistance Award:
9(1) The person is a resident within the meaning of Section
1068017.
11(2) The person is an active member of, and has served two years
12in, the California National Guard, the State Military
Reserve, or
13the Naval Militia.
14(3) The person has been accepted or registered at, or enrolled
15in, a qualifying institution, as defined in subdivision (l) of Section
1669432.7.
17(4) The person agrees to use the award to obtain a certificate,
18degree, or diploma that he or she does not hold at the time he or
19she applies for the award, and enrolls in at least three academic
20units per semester, or the equivalent thereofbegin insert, including summer
21session and intersession terms.end insert
22(5) The person has submitted the Free Application for Federal
23Student Aid (FAFSA) to the United States Department of
24Education.
25(c) Each person applying for a California National Guard
26
Education Assistance Award shall submit an application for an
27award to the Adjutant General.
28(d) The Adjutant General shall do all of the following:
29(1) Annually identify the skills most needed by the California
30National Guard to retain members who possess, or seek to possess,
31those identified skills.
32(2) Prioritize those applicants who qualify for an award pursuant
33to subdivision (b) based on the skills most needed by the California
34National Guard, as identified pursuant to paragraph (1).
35(3) Select award recipients from among eligible applicants
36pursuant to subdivision (e).
37(4) Certify the eligibility of applicants to the Student Aid
38Commission.
39(5) Notify recipients of their selection for an award.
P3 1(e) The Adjutant General shall select recipients who have been
2judged by the Adjutant General to have outstanding ability on the
3basis of criteria that may include, but shall not be limited to, any
4of the following:
5(1) The Military Occupational Specialty Code or the Air Force
6Specialty Code.
7(2) An annual noncommissioned officer evaluation report or
8officer evaluation report of the preceding two years.
9(3) A memorandum from the applicant’s commander
10recommending the applicant for the award.
11(4) Commendations the applicant has received.
12(5) An essay, written by the applicant, explaining why education
13is important to the applicant.
14(f) The number of awards issued by the Student Aid Commission
15in any fiscal year shall be limited to the number authorized in the
16annual Budget Act for that year, but in no event shall exceed 1,000
17in any fiscal year.
18(g) The Student Aid Commission shall issue the awards in
19accordance with Section 69999.18.
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