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 for awards under these programs for participating students attending qualifying institutions. Among the eligibility requirements for the Cal Grant A and B Entitlement awards is a requirement that the applicant submit a complete financial aid application postmarked no later than March 2 of the academic year of high school graduation or its equivalent, or no later than March 2 of the academic year following high school graduation or its equivalent, for the 2nd award year. This bill, commencing with the 2015–16 award year and continuing each award year thereafter, would extend this period of eligibility by one year, allowing an applicant for Cal Grant A and B Entitlement awards to submit a complete financial aid application no later than March 2 of the 2nd academic year after his or her high school graduation or its equivalent for an award commencing the academic year following the application.