Bill Text: CA AB2160 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Cal Grant Program: grade point average.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 10-2)
Status: (Passed) 2014-09-27 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Chapter 679, Statutes of 2014. [AB2160 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB2160-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 2160 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
CHAPTER 679
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 27, 2014
APPROVED BY GOVERNOR SEPTEMBER 27, 2014
PASSED THE SENATE AUGUST 19, 2014
PASSED THE ASSEMBLY AUGUST 21, 2014
AMENDED IN SENATE AUGUST 18, 2014
AMENDED IN SENATE JUNE 18, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 23, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY MAY 5, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 10, 2014
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY APRIL 1, 2014
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Ting
(Principal coauthor: Senator Hill)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano, Brown, Campos, Chávez,
Gonzalez, and Maienschein)
(Coauthors: Senators Cannella, Correa, Evans, and Padilla)
FEBRUARY 20, 2014
An act to amend Section 69432.9 of the Education Code, relating to
postsecondary education.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
AB 2160, Ting. Cal Grant Program: grade point average.
The Cal Grant Program establishes the Cal Grant A and B
Entitlement Awards, the California Community College Transfer Cal
Grant Entitlement Awards, the Competitive Cal Grant A and B Awards,
the Cal Grant C Awards, and the Cal Grant T Awards under the
administration of the Student Aid Commission, and establishes
eligibility requirements for awards under these programs for
participating students attending qualifying institutions.
A provision of the program specifies that the commission shall
require that a grade point average be submitted, as specified, to the
commission for Cal Grant A and B applicants, except for those
applicants permitted to provide test scores in lieu of a grade point
average.
This bill would require that each pupil enrolled in grade 12,
except for pupils who opt out, as specified, be deemed a Cal Grant
applicant. The bill would require that a grade point average be
submitted for all Cal Grant A and B applicants, and submitted
electronically for all grade 12 pupils at public schools, including
charter schools, each academic year, except for pupils who have opted
out, as specified, and would provide that grade point averages
submitted shall be subject to review by the commission or its
designee. The bill would require the school district or charter
school, no later than October 15 of a pupil's grade 12 academic year,
to notify, in writing, each grade 12 pupil and his or her parent or
guardian that the pupil will be deemed a Cal Grant applicant unless
the pupil is opted out, and would specify a procedure for opting out.
To the extent that these provisions would impose new duties on local
educational agencies and community college districts, they would
constitute a state-mandated local program.
The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local
agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the
state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that
reimbursement.
This bill would provide that, if the Commission on State Mandates
determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state,
reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to these
statutory provisions.
THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. Section 69432.9 of the Education Code is amended to
read:
69432.9. (a) A Cal Grant applicant shall submit a complete
official financial aid application pursuant to Section 69433 and
applicable regulations adopted by the commission. Each pupil enrolled
in grade 12 in a California public school, including a charter
school, other than pupils who opt out as provided in subdivision (d),
shall be deemed to be a Cal Grant applicant.
(b) Financial need shall be determined to establish an applicant's
initial eligibility for a Cal Grant award and a renewing recipient's
continued eligibility using the federal financial need methodology
pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 69506 and applicable
regulations adopted by the commission, and as established by Title IV
of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended (20 U.S.C.
Secs. 1070 et seq.).
(1) "Expected family contribution," with respect to an applicant
or renewing recipient, shall be determined using the federal
methodology pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 69506 (as
established by Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965,
as amended (20 U.S.C. Secs. 1070 et seq.)) and applicable rules and
regulations adopted by the commission.
(2) "Financial need" means the difference between the student's
cost of attendance as determined by the commission and the expected
family contribution. The calculation of financial need shall be
consistent with Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965,
as amended (20 U.S.C. Secs. 1070 et seq.).
(3) (A) The minimum financial need required for receipt of an
initial and renewal Cal Grant A or C award shall be no less than the
maximum annual award value for the applicable institution, plus an
additional one thousand five hundred dollars ($1,500) of financial
need.
(B) The minimum financial need required for receipt of an initial
and renewal Cal Grant B award shall be no less than seven hundred
dollars ($700).
(c) (1) The commission shall require that a grade point average be
submitted to it for all Cal Grant A and B applicants, except for
those permitted to provide test scores in lieu of a grade point
average.
(2) The commission shall require that a grade point average be
submitted to it electronically for all grade 12 pupils at public
schools, including charter schools, each academic year, except for
pupils who have opted out as provided in subdivision (d). Social
security numbers shall not be included in the information submitted
to the commission. However, if the commission determines that a
social security number is required to complete the application for
financial aid, the school, school district, or charter school may
obtain permission from the parent or guardian of the pupil, or the
pupil, if he or she is 18 years of age, to submit the pupil's social
security number to the commission.
(3) The commission shall require that each report of a grade point
average include a certification, executed under penalty of perjury,
by a school official, that the grade point average reported is
accurately reported. The certification shall include a statement that
it is subject to review by the commission or its designee.
(4) The commission shall adopt regulations that establish a grace
period for receipt of the grade point average and any appropriate
corrections, and that set forth the circumstances under which a
student may submit a specified test score designated by the
commission, by regulation, in lieu of submitting a qualifying grade
point average.
(5) It is the intent of the Legislature that high schools and
institutions of higher education certify the grade point averages of
their students in time to meet the application deadlines imposed by
this chapter.
(d) (1) The school district or charter school shall, no later than
October 15 of a pupil's grade 12 academic year, notify, in writing,
each grade 12 pupil and, for a pupil under 18 years of age, his or
her parent or guardian that, pursuant to subdivision (a), the pupil
will be deemed a Cal Grant applicant unless the pupil opts out within
a period of time specified in the notice, which shall not be less
than 30 days. The required notice shall indicate when the school will
first send grade point averages to the commission. The school
district or charter school shall provide an opportunity for the pupil
to opt out of being automatically deemed a Cal Grant applicant.
(2) (A) Until a pupil turns 18 years of age, only a parent or
guardian may opt the pupil out. Once a pupil turns 18 years of age,
only the pupil may opt himself or herself out and, if prior to the
conclusion of the notice period, the pupil may opt in over the prior
decision of a parent or guardian to opt out.
SEC. 2. If the Commission on State Mandates determines that this
act contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement to local
agencies and school districts for those costs shall be made pursuant
to Part 7 (commencing with Section 17500) of Division 4 of Title 2 of
the Government Code.
