Student financial aid: Cal Grants: Middle Class Scholarship Program: eligibility: dependents of members of the armed services stationed outside of California.

Assembly Member Ta's proposal to extend California's student financial aid programs addresses a gap affecting military families stationed abroad, modifying Cal Grant and Middle Class Scholarship Program eligibility requirements to include dependents of service members who maintain California as their state of legal residence.

The legislation amends existing financial aid frameworks to accommodate students who would otherwise qualify for state aid but fail to meet traditional residency requirements due to their parents' overseas military assignments. Under the proposed changes, dependent children, stepchildren, and spouses of active-duty service members stationed outside California become eligible for Cal Grants and the Middle Class Scholarship Program, provided the service member maintains California as their legal residence state.

The bill preserves core eligibility criteria while creating targeted exceptions for military dependents. Students must still meet academic standards, income thresholds, and application deadlines. The Student Aid Commission retains its verification authority, including random audits of at least 10% of new and renewal awards before fund disbursement. Annual reporting requirements track the distribution and verification of awards, with reports due to the Legislature and Governor by November 1 each year.

These modifications operate within existing funding structures and administrative frameworks. The changes apply to award years beginning in 2024-25, requiring no new appropriations but functioning under the assumption of available General Fund moneys as specified in the Cal Grant Reform Act.