Bill Text: CA AB2566 | 2013-2014 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Student financial aid: Cal Grant Program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2014-05-23 - In committee: Set, second hearing. Held under submission. [AB2566 Detail]
Download: California-2013-AB2566-Introduced.html
BILL NUMBER: AB 2566 INTRODUCED BILL TEXT INTRODUCED BY Assembly Member Weber FEBRUARY 21, 2014 An act to amend Sections 69434 and 69435.3 of the Education Code, relating to student financial aid. LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST AB 2566, as introduced, Weber. Student financial aid: Cal Grant Program. Existing law, the Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian-Vasconcellos 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. Among the eligibility requirements for the Cal Grant A and B Entitlement awards is a requirement that the applicant submit a complete financial aid application postmarked no later than March 2 of the academic year of high school graduation or its equivalent, or no later than March 2 of the academic year following high school graduation or its equivalent, for the 2nd award year. This bill, commencing with the 2015-16 award year and continuing each award year thereafter, would extend this period of eligibility by one year, allowing an applicant for Cal Grant A and B Entitlement awards to submit a complete financial aid application no later than March 2 of the 2nd academic year after his or her high school graduation or its equivalent for an award commencing the academic year following the application. Vote: majority. Appropriation: no. Fiscal committee: yes. State-mandated local program: no. THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. Section 69434 of the Education Code is amended to read: 69434. (a) A Cal Grant A award shall be used only for tuition or student fees, or both, in a for-credit instructional program with a length of not less than two academic years. Each student who meets the Cal Grant A qualifications as set forth in this article shall be guaranteed an award. The amount of any individual award is dependent on the cost of tuition or fees, or both, at the qualifying institution at which the student is enrolled. For each applicant, the award amount shall not exceed the amount of the calculated financial need. (b) Pursuant to Section 66021.2, any California resident is entitled to a Cal Grant A award, and the commission, or a qualifying institution pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 69450), shall allocate that award, if all of the following criteria are met: (1)The(A) For award years preceding and including the 2014-15 award year, the student has submitted, pursuant to Section 69432.9, a complete financial aid application, submitted or postmarked no later than March 2 of the academic year of high school graduation or its equivalent for the award year immediately following the academic year of high school graduation or its equivalent, or no later than March 2 of the academic year following high school graduation or its equivalent for the second award year following the academic year of high school graduation or its equivalent. (B) For the 2015-16 award year and each award year thereafter, the student has submitted, pursuant to Section 69432.9, a complete financial aid application, submitted or postmarked no later than March 2 of the second academic year after his or her high school graduation or its equivalent for the award year immediately following the academic year of the application. (2) The student demonstrates financial need pursuant to Section 69433. (3) The student attains a high school grade point average of at least 3.0 on a four-point scale. (4) The student's household has an income and asset level that does not exceed the level for Cal Grant A recipients set forth in Section 69432.7. (5) The student is pursuing an undergraduate academic program of not less than two academic years that is offered by a qualifying institution. (6) The student is enrolled at least part time. (7) The student meets the general Cal Grant eligibility requirements set forth in Article 1 (commencing with Section 69430). (8) The student graduated from high school or its equivalent during or after the 2000-01 academic year. (c) A student who meets the Cal Grant A Entitlement Program criteria specified in this article shall receive a Cal Grant A award for tuition or fees, or both, pursuant to Section 66021.2. SEC. 2. Section 69435.3 of the Education Code is amended to read: 69435.3. (a) Any California resident is entitled to receive a Cal Grant B award, and the commission shall allocate that award pursuant to Section 66021.2, if all of the following criteria are met: (1)The(A) For award years preceding and including the 2014-15 award year, the student has submitted, pursuant to Section 69432.9, a complete financial aid application, submitted or postmarked no later than March 2 of the academic year of high school graduation or its equivalent for the award year immediately following the academic year of high school graduation or its equivalent, or no later than March 2 of the academic year following high school graduation or its equivalent for the second award year following the academic year of high school graduation or its equivalent. (B) For the 2015-16 award year and each award year thereafter, the student has submitted, pursuant to Section 69432.9, a complete financial aid application, submitted or postmarked no later than March 2 of the second academic year after his or her high school graduation or its equivalent for the award year immediately following the academic year of the application. (2) The student demonstrates financial need pursuant to Section 69433. (3) The student attains a high school grade point average of at least 2.0 on a four-point scale. (4) The student's household has an income and asset level that does not exceed the level for Cal Grant B recipients as set forth in Section 69432.7. (5) The student is pursuing an undergraduate academic program of not less than one academic year that is offered by a qualifying institution. (6) The student is enrolled at least part-time. (7) The student meets the general Cal Grant eligibility requirements set forth in Article 1 (commencing with Section 69430). (8) The student graduated from high school or its equivalent during or after the 2000-01 academic year. (b) A student who meets the Cal Grant B Entitlement Program criteria specified in this article shall receive a Cal Grant B award for access costs and tuition and fees pursuant to Section 66021.2.