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 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, 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, as amended, 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 this   that,
except for pupils who opt out, as specified, each pupil enrolled in
grade 12 be deemed a Cal Grant applicant. The bill would require,
except for pupils who have opted out, as specified, that a 
grade point average be submitted electronically for all  high
school seniors   grade 12 pupils  at public
schools, including charter schools, each academic year, and all other
Cal Grant A and B applicants, except those permitted  , at the
discretion of the commission, to submit a grade point average in a
non   elect   ronic format or  to provide test
scores in lieu of a grade point average, and provide that grade
point averages submitted shall be subject to review by the commission
or its designee. The bill would  condition these
requirements upon the school district or charter school obtaining
written permission of the parent or guardian in compliance with a
specified federal law   require the school district or
charter school, no later than October 15 of a pupil's grade 12
academic year, to notify, in writing, the parent or guardian of each
grade 12 pupil that the pupil will be deemed a Cal Grant applicant
unless the pupil opts out, and provide an opportunity for that pupil
to opt out  . To the extent that  this provision
  these provisions  would impose new duties on
local educational agencies and community college districts, 
it   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.
   Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes.
State-mandated local program: 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.  Each pupil
enrolled in grade 12 in a California public 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)  Except   (1)    
Except for pupils who have opted out  as provided in subdivision
(d), the commission shall require that a grade point average be
submitted  electronically  for all  high school
seniors   grade 12 pupils  at public schools,
including charter schools, each academic year, and  for  all
other Cal Grant A and B applicants, except those permitted  , at
the discretion of the commission, to submit a grade point average in
a non   electronic   format or  to provide
test scores in lieu of a grade point average.  The 
    (2)     The  commission shall require
that each report of a grade point average be submitted 
electronically  by a school or school district official,
with a certification  by a school official  , under penalty
of perjury, that the grade point average reported is accurately
reported. A submitted grade point average shall be subject to review
by the commission or its designee.  The 
    (3)     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
 electronically submit   certify  the grade
point averages of their students in time to meet the application
deadlines imposed by this chapter. 
   (d) Prior to submitting the grade point average of a pupil who has
not applied for a Cal Grant award, the school district or charter
school shall obtain written permission of the parent or guardian in
compliance with the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
of 2001 (20 U.S.C. Sec. 1232g).  
   (d) The school district or charter school shall, no later than
October 15 of a pupil's grade 12 academic year, notify, in writing,
the parent or guardian of each grade 12 pupil that, pursuant to
subdivision (a), the pupil will be deemed a Cal Grant applicant
unless the pupil opts out, and provide an opportunity for that pupil
to opt out of being automatically deemed a Cal Grant applicant. 

  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.