Foster youth: postsecondary education: financial aid assistance.

(1) 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. Under existing law, the commission, among other things, administers the Cal Grant Program, the Student Opportunity and Access Program, the Assumption Program of Loans for Education, the Graduate Assumption Program of Loans for Education, the Public Interest Attorney Loan Repayment Program, and the California State Work-Study Program. The commission also oversees the state's participation in the Federal Family Education Loan Program. Existing law authorizes the commission to enter into an agreement with a public agency of a state other than California, or a private entity related to an agency of another state, to assist the other agency or entity in implementing financial aid programs, including assistance with processing grants, fellowships, and loans through the use of automated information systems. This bill would require the Student Aid Commission to work cooperatively with the State Department of Social Services to develop an automated system to verify a student's status as a foster youth to aid in the processing of applications for federal financial aid. (2) Existing law, the Cooperating Agencies Foster Youth Educational Support Program, authorizes the Office of the Chancellor of the California Community Colleges to enter into agreements with up to 10 community college districts to provide additional funds for services in support of postsecondary education for foster youth. Existing law provides that these services include, when appropriate, but are not necessarily limited to, outreach and recruitment, service coordination, counseling, book and supply grants, tutoring, independent living and financial literacy skills support, frequent in-person contact, career guidance, transfer counseling, child care and transportation assistance, and referrals to health services, mental health services, housing assistance, and other related services. Existing law requires, if more than 10 community college districts apply for funding, the board of governors to give priority to those districts with the higher number of eligible students. Existing law provides that the program is operative in a fiscal year only if funds have been appropriated for purposes of the program for that fiscal year. Existing law requires the board of governors to submit a biennial report, commencing March 31, 2018, and every 2 years thereafter, providing proscribed information, including recommendations on whether and how the program can be expanded to all community college districts and campuses. This bill would expand that authorization from up to 10 community college districts to up to 20 community college districts, and would make conforming changes to other provisions of the program. The bill would expand the services required to be provided under this program to include both (A) consultation and eligibility verification and (B) consultation and referrals for students deemed ineligible. The bill would delay the commencement date of the board of governors' biennial report to March 31, 2020. (3) Existing law requires a county social worker to create a case plan for a foster youth within a specified timeframe after the child is introduced into the foster care system. Existing law requires the case plan to be developed considering the recommendations of the child and family team according to specified requirements, including, among others, a requirement that the child be involved in developing the case plan as age and developmentally appropriate. This bill would require the case plan, for a child who is 16 years of age or older and for a nonminor dependent, to identify the person or persons who are responsible for assisting the child or nonminor dependent with applications for postsecondary education and related financial aid, except as provided. By expanding the duties of counties relating to the development of a case plan for a foster youth, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. (4) This bill would incorporate additional changes to Section 16501.1 of the Welfare and Institutions Code proposed by AB 404 and AB 1006 to be operative only if this bill and either or both of those bills are enacted and this bill is enacted last. (5) The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.