Liz Ortega

Existing law establishes the Student Aid Commission as the primary state agency for the administration of state-authorized student financial aid programs available to students attending all segments of postsecondary education.

Existing law, the Cal Grant Program, establishes the Cal Grant A Entitlement Awards, the Cal Grant B Entitlement Awards, the California Community College Expanded Entitlement Awards, the California Community College Transfer 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 commission. Existing law also establishes the Middle Class Scholarship Program under the commission's administration. Existing law establishes eligibility requirements for awards under these programs for participating students attending qualifying institutions. The eligibility requirements under these programs and other financial aid programs administered by the commission include meeting various application deadlines.

Existing law requires the commission to grant a postponement of an application deadline of up to 30 calendar days for any financial aid program administered by the commission pursuant to a formal request, as provided. Existing law authorizes the commission to grant a postponement of an application deadline of up to an additional 30 calendar days, without submission of a formal request, if the commission finds that a state of emergency declared by the Governor or the President of the United States has occurred.

This bill would additionally authorize the commission to grant the above-described postponement of an application deadline without submission of a formal request if the commission finds that there was a delay in the opening of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, as declared by the commission.