Student Aid Commission: California Dream Act applicants: Food Support Pilot Program.

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 requires a school district, county office of education, or charter school to ensure that a grade 12 pupil who has not opted out, as specified, completes and submits a Free Application for Federal Student Aid or, if the pupil is exempt from paying nonresident tuition under existing law, completes and submits a form for purposes of the California Dream Act. Existing law also establishes the California Food Assistance Program and requires the State Department of Social Services to use state funds appropriated for that program to provide nutrition benefits to households that are ineligible for CalFresh benefits solely due to their immigration status. This bill, until May 1, 2028, would require the Student Aid Commission to establish the Food Support Pilot Program to provide food support grants to qualifying students who submit a California Dream Act application, as specified. The bill would require the commission to allocate the award on a semester or quarterly basis to a qualifying institution, as defined, if certain program eligibility requirements are met and would require a qualifying institution to provide the funds to the student, as specified. The bill would guarantee an award in the amount of $2,808 per year to each student meeting the program eligibility requirements. The bill would require the commission to conduct a student survey every two years to determine the effectiveness of the Food Support Pilot Program, and to report certain information to the Legislature, as specified. The bill would make its provisions operative only upon an appropriation of funds for its purposes. To the extent the bill imposes additional duties on community colleges, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. 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, if the Commission on State Mandates determines that the bill contains costs mandated by the state, reimbursement for those costs shall be made pursuant to the statutory provisions noted above.