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 and maximum levels for awards under these programs for participating students attending qualifying institutions. Existing law requires that a Cal Grant B award for access costs, as defined, is not to exceed $1,551 annually. Existing law provides that this amount may be adjusted in the annual Budget Act. This bill, commencing with the 2014–15 academic year, would require that the Cal Grant B access award be no less than $1,710, unless that amount exceeds the amount of the student's calculated financial need, as specified. The bill would require the award for access costs to include the percentage increase, if any, in the California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, as specified. In the event of a decrease in the California Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers from the prior academic year, the award amount would remain at its most recent level, as specified. The bill would delete the provision authorizing the adjustment of this amount in the annual Budget Act.