Bill Text: CA AB2160 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Amended

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft

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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-Amended.html

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BILL NUMBER: AB 2160	AMENDED
	BILL TEXT

	AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY  APRIL 1, 2014

INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Ting
   (Principal coauthor: Senator Hill)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano, Brown, Chávez, and
Maienschein)
   (Coauthors: Senators Evans and Padilla)

                        FEBRUARY 20, 2014

    An act relating to postsecondary education. 
 An act to amend Section 69432.9 of the Education Code, relating
to postsecondary education. 


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AB 2160, as amended, Ting.  Postsecondary education:
financial aid.   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 this grade point average be submitted
electronically for all high school seniors at public schools and all
other Cal Grant A and B applicants, and provide that grade point
averages submitted shall be subject to review by the commission or
its designee. To the extent that this provision would impose new
duties on local educational agencies and community college districts,
it 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 Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian-Vasconcellos Cal Grant Program sets
forth the state's educational opportunity grant program for
postsecondary study.  
   This bill would state the intent of the Legislature to enact
legislation that would streamline the financial aid process for
students in order to encourage students to pursue higher education.

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


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.
   (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 Cal Grant 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) The commission shall require that a grade point average be
submitted for all  high school seniors at public schools and all
other  Cal Grant A and B  applicants, except for those
permitted to provide test scores in lieu of a grade point average
  applicants  . The commission shall require that
each report of a grade point average  include a
certification, executed under penalty of perjury,   be
submitted electronically  by a school  or school district
 official,  with a certification, under penalty of perjury,
 that the grade point average reported is accurately reported.
 The certification shall include a statement that it is
  A submitted grade point average shall be  subject
to review by the commission or its designee. 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. It is the intent of the
Legislature that high schools and institutions of higher education
 certify   electronically submit  the grade
point averages of their students in time to meet the application
deadlines imposed by this chapter.
  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. 
  SECTION 1.    It is the intent of the Legislature
to enact legislation that would streamline the financial aid process
for students in order to encourage students to pursue higher
education.