69519.
(a) The commission, through an interagency agreement with the State Department of Social Services, currently operates a federally funded scholarship program, known as the Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers Program, that provides grant aid to provide access to California’s current and former foster youth to postsecondary education. Funds provided through an appropriation by the Legislature shall be supplemental to funds provided by the federal government, and are designated to ensure program availability in the absence of and prior to the annual receipt of federal funds for this purpose. The department shall opt in, as necessary, to expand program age eligibility of former foster youth up to 26 years of age pursuant to federal program guidelines. The department shall pursue and seek possible Chafee Educational and Training
Vouchers Program federal matching dollars.(b) Funds provided for this program shall be used to assist students who are current and former foster youth, for career and technical training or traditional college courses. The commission shall operate this program in accordance with the program instructions provided by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, and the program guidelines developed by the State Department of Social Services.
(c) The total amount of funding and the amount of individual awards shall depend upon the amount of federal funding provided in addition to state funding. The commission, in conjunction with the State Department of Social Services, shall determine the individual award amounts and total number of students awarded on an annual basis as the amount of total annual funding is determined.
(d) Commencing with the 2017–18 award year, the commission shall make a new Chafee grant award to a student only if the student attends either of the following:
(1) A qualifying institution that is eligible for participation in the Cal Grant Program pursuant to Section 69432.7.
(2) An institution that is not located in California that satisfies the provisions of subparagraphs (C) and (F) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (l) of Section 69432.7.
(e) (1) Commencing with the 2018–19 award year, the commission shall make a Chafee grant award to a student only if the student meets both of the following conditions:
(A) He or she will not be 26 years of age or older by July 1 of
the award year.
(B) He or she attends either of the following institutions:
(i) A qualifying institution that is eligible for participation in the Cal Grant Program pursuant to Section 69432.7.
(ii) An institution that is not located in California that satisfies the provisions of subparagraphs (C) and (F) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (l) of Section 69432.7.
(2) Implementation of this subdivision is contingent upon an appropriation of sufficient funds in the annual Budget Act for this purpose.
(f) Commencing with the 2018–19 award year, up to $80,000 of any appropriation made by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act or another statute to expand the Chafee Educational and Training
Vouchers Program age eligibility of former foster youth up to 26 years of age, may be used by the commission or the State Department of Social Services for outreach purposes to newly eligible former foster youth who are at least 23 years of age, but are not yet 26 years of age for the 2018–19 to 2020–21, inclusive, fiscal years. Outreach purposes may include travel, material development, printing or publication, and other costs, as necessary.
(g) The commission shall annually report to the Legislature all of the following information for the preceding award year:
(1) The number of students who apply to receive a Chafee grant award.
(2) The number of Chafee grants awarded.
(3) The number of Chafee applicants denied due to either of the following
reasons:
(A) The Chafee applicant no longer meets the age requirements of the program.
(B) There is insufficient proof of the Chafee applicant’s status as a current or former foster youth.
(4) The number of Chafee awardees unpaid due to any of the following reasons:
(A) Failure to meet minimum enrollment requirements.
(B) Failure to meet standard academic progress according to campus policy.
(C) Any other common reason that a Chafee awardee did not receive a payment.
(5) The number and age of students paid through the Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers
Program.
(6) The average Chafee grant award amount.
(7) Qualifying institutions where Chafee grant awards are utilized.
(8) Degree levels for which Chafee grant awards are utilized.
(9) The amount spent on outreach and education efforts and the types of activities that the authorization in subdivision (f) funded. This information shall include the distribution of outreach funding spent between the commission and the State Department of Social Services, and any other entity that was involved.