(a) (1) A Cal Grant B award shall be used only for tuition, student fees, and access costs in a for-credit instructional program that is not less than one academic year in length.
(2) The commission, or a qualifying institution pursuant to Article 8 (commencing with Section 69450), shall award access grants in a student’s first academic year. In subsequent years, the award shall include an additional amount to pay tuition or fees, or both, to attend college at a public or private four-year college or university or other qualifying institution for all Cal Grant B awards pursuant to paragraph (2) of subdivision (b) of Section 66021.2. In no event shall the total award in any year exceed the applicant’s calculated financial need.
(3) Not more than 2 percent of new Cal Grant B recipients enrolling for the first time in an institution of postsecondary education shall be eligible for payments for tuition or fees, or both, in their first academic year of attendance. The commission shall adopt regulations specifying the criteria used to determine which applicants, if any, receive both tuition and fees plus the access grant in the first year of enrollment. Priority shall be given to students with the lowest expected family contribution pursuant to Section 69432.7 and the highest level of academic merit.
(b) An award for access costs under this article shall be in an annual amount not to exceed one thousand five hundred fifty-one dollars ($1,551) or, if the recipient meets the qualifying criteria pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 69465, the amount of the award provided pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with
Section
69465), or if the recipient meets the qualifying criteria pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 69470, the amount of the award provided pursuant to Article 10 (commencing with Section 69470). These amounts may be adjusted in the annual Budget Act.
(Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 144, Sec. 23. (AB 132) Effective July 27, 2021. Conditionally inoperative as prescribed in Section 69475 (if it becomes operative). Repealed conditionally pursuant to Section 69475 (if it becomes operative).)
(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) (A) 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, no later than March 2 of the academic year following high school graduation or its equivalent for the second award year following the year of high school graduation or its equivalent, or, if applicable to the student, pursuant to the following
dates:
(i) No later than March 2 of the academic year immediately prior to the year for which funds would be applied, if the student is a current or former foster youth, is attending a qualifying institution that offers baccalaureate degrees, and has not yet reached 26 years of age as of July 1 of the initial award year.
(ii) No later than September 2 of the academic year for which funds would be applied, if the student is a current or former foster youth, is attending a California community college, and has not yet reached 26 years of age as of July 1 of the initial award year.
(B) For purposes of this section, “current or former foster youth” has the same meaning as specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of Section 69433.6.
(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, including a community college student participating in upper division coursework in a baccalaureate degree program pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 78040) of Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7, who meets the Cal Grant B Entitlement Program or Competitive Program criteria specified in this article shall receive a Cal Grant B award for access costs and tuition and fees, as applicable, pursuant to Section 66021.2.
(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 33, Sec. 13. (AB 1809) Effective June 27, 2018. Conditionally inoperative as prescribed in Section 69475 (if it becomes operative). Repealed conditionally pursuant to Section 69475 (if it becomes operative).)