Student financial aid: application deadlines: extension.

Assembly Member Ortega's proposal to modify California's student financial aid application process adds delays in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) system to the conditions under which the Student Aid Commission can extend submission deadlines without formal requests. The measure amends existing provisions that permit 30-day deadline extensions during declared emergencies to include Commission-identified FAFSA opening delays as qualifying events.

The legislation establishes specific procedures for implementing and communicating deadline changes. When granting extensions, the Commission must notify educational institutions, state officials, and legislative committees within 48 hours and post the revised deadlines on its website. The bill requires annual reporting on the number of extensions granted, late applications received, and affected districts to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee and relevant policy committees.

Under the amended code, qualifying events that may trigger deadline extensions include natural disasters, declared states of emergency, FAFSA system delays, and labor actions occurring during application periods. The Commission retains its existing authority to delegate extension decisions to its director and to grant postponements upon formal request from educational administrators. These provisions apply to all state financial aid programs administered by the Commission, including Cal Grant entitlements and the Middle Class Scholarship Program.