(a) The Cal Grant 2 Program is established for students enrolled at a campus of the California Community Colleges in a for-credit instructional program leading to a degree, certificate, or transfer.
(b) To be eligible for an award under the Cal Grant 2 Program, a community college student shall comply with all of the following conditions:
(1) Qualify as a California resident or qualify for a waiver of nonresident tuition under Section 68130.5.
(2) Meet all requirements for Cal Grant eligibility pursuant to Section 69411.
(3) Submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or a California Dream Act application on or before September 2 of the year immediately preceding the award year.
(4) Enroll at a campus, or a combination of campuses, of the California Community Colleges as at least a half-time student, and maintain satisfactory academic progress within the meaning of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965 (Public Law 89-329, as amended).
(5) Have a household income below the percentage of the federal poverty level, as adjusted annually by the federal government, applicable to the student, as specified in the following table, based on the status and size of the student’s household:
Student Household Status and Size Percentage of federal poverty level for Cal Grant 2 Program Qualification
A dependent student with married parents and an independent student without a dependent 275 percent
A dependent student with a single parent 325 percent
An independent, married student with a dependent 350 percent
An independent, single student with a dependent 400 percent
(c) (1) A Cal Grant 2 award shall include an access award, covering nontuition expenses, of no less than the maximum per-student amount provided in the 2020–21 award year in the first award year. Except as provided in paragraph (2), that amount shall be adjusted in subsequent award years in proportion to the growth, if any, of the California Consumer Price Index as calculated by the Department of Industrial Relations.
(2) The Director of Finance may suspend the adjustment of the Cal Grant 2 access award for the succeeding award year if, in the determination of the director, the May Revision projects a state budget deficit would occur without budgetary actions for that succeeding award year.
(d) Any recipient of the Cal Grant 2 award is also eligible for an award pursuant to Sections 69465 and 69470, if they meet criteria described in those sections.
(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 54, Sec. 8. (AB 183) Effective June 30, 2022. Conditionally operative by Sec. 65 of Stats. 2022, Ch. 54. Conditionally operative as prescribed in Sections 69405 and 69428.)