Foster youth: Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers Program.

Existing law establishes the Student Aid Commission as the state agency primarily responsible for the administration and coordination of student financial aid programs at California postsecondary educational institutions. Existing federal law establishes the Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers Program for the purposes of providing financial aid to current and former foster youth who are attending qualifying postsecondary educational institutions. Existing law provides that the Student Aid Commission, through an interagency agreement with the State Department of Social Services, currently operates the program in California, and, commencing with the 2018–19 award year, and contingent upon an appropriation of sufficient funds in the annual Budget Act for this purpose, requires the commission to make a new Chafee grant award to a student only if the student will not be 26 years of age or older by July 1 of the award year and the student attends specified qualifying institutions. This bill, commencing with the 2025–26 award year and contingent upon an appropriation of sufficient funds in the annual Budget Act for this purpose, would require the commission to make a new Chafee grant award to a student if, in addition to the above-referenced conditions, the youth, between 15 and 18 years of age, (1) is or was a dependent or ward of the court, living in foster care, (2) exited foster care to Kin-GAP, a nonrelated legal guardianship, or adoption, or (3) was placed in out-of-home care by a tribe or tribal organization.