Amended in Senate May 23, 2014

California Legislature—2013–14 Regular Session

Assembly Bill No. 1781

Introduced by Assembly Member Linder

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(Coauthors: Assembly Members Chávez, Grove, and Melendez)

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February 18, 2014

An act to amend Section 69999.16 of the Education Code, relating to postsecondary education.

LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL’S DIGEST

AB 1781, as amended, 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 begin insert , end insert under the administration of the Student Aid begin delete Commission. Under existing law, a qualified member, as defined, of the California National Guard and State Military Reserve end delete begin insert Commission, in consultation with the Military Department. Existing law provides that a qualifying member end insert is eligible to receive begin delete financial assistance under the program end delete begin insert an award end insert 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 begin delete for a end delete begin insert per end insert summer session or intersession term. begin insert The bill also would state various legislative findings, declarations, and intent relating to these provisions. end insert

Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no.

The people of the State of California do enact as follows:

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begin insert SECTION 1. end insert   

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begin insert The Legislature finds and declares both of the
following: end insert

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(a) The California National Guard Education Award Assistance
Program is a highly effective student-soldier assistance program
emphasizing certification, program, and degree completion.

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(b) Student-soldiers are strongly encouraged to seek available
academic advising services to create their academic schedule and
program with the goal of working towards a certification or degree.

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begin insert SEC. 2. end insert   

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It is the intent of the Legislature to build upon the
success of the California National Guard Education Award
Assistance Program by providing student-soldiers more flexibility
in achieving their academic goals.

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begin delete SECTION 1. end delete
begin insert SEC. 3. end insert   

Section 69999.16 of the Education Code is amended
to read:

69999.16.  

(a) Commencing January 1 of the 2009-10 academic
year, and each academic year thereafter, any qualifying member
of the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or
the Naval Militia may apply for a California National Guard
Education Assistance Award.

(b) A qualifying member shall meet all of the following
conditions to be eligible to receive a California National Guard
Education Assistance Award:

(1) The person is a resident within the meaning of Section
68017.

(2) The person is an active member of, and has served two years
in, the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or
the Naval Militia.

(3) The person has been accepted or registered at, or enrolled
in, a qualifying institution, as defined in subdivision (l) of Section
69432.7.

(4) The person agrees to use the award to obtain a certificate,
degree, or diploma that he or she does not hold at the time he or
she applies for the award, and enrolls in at least three academic
units per semester, or the equivalent thereof, begin delete including end delete begin insert or per end insert
summer session begin delete and end delete begin insert or end insert intersession begin delete terms. end delete begin insert term. end insert

(5) The person has submitted the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) to the United States Department of
Education.

(c) Each person applying for a California National Guard
Education Assistance Award shall submit an application for an
award to the Adjutant General.

(d) The Adjutant General shall do all of the following:

(1) Annually identify the skills most needed by the California
National Guard to retain members who possess, or seek to possess,
those identified skills.

(2) Prioritize those applicants who qualify for an award pursuant
to subdivision (b) based on the skills most needed by the California
National Guard, as identified pursuant to paragraph (1).

(3) Select award recipients from among eligible applicants
pursuant to subdivision (e).

(4)  Certify the eligibility of applicants to the Student Aid
Commission.

(5) Notify recipients of their selection for an award.

(e) The Adjutant General shall select recipients who have been
judged by the Adjutant General to have outstanding ability on the
basis of criteria that may include, but shall not be limited to, any
of the following:

(1) The Military Occupational Specialty Code or the Air Force
Specialty Code.

(2) An annual noncommissioned officer evaluation report or
officer evaluation report of the preceding two years.

(3) A memorandum from the applicant’s commander
recommending the applicant for the award.

(4) Commendations the applicant has received.

(5) An essay, written by the applicant, explaining why education
is important to the applicant.

(f) The number of awards issued by the Student Aid Commission
in any fiscal year shall be limited to the number authorized in the
annual Budget Act for that year, but in no event shall exceed 1,000
in any fiscal year.

(g) The Student Aid Commission shall issue the awards in
accordance with Section 69999.18.