Assembly Member Berman's legislation mandates new cost of attendance policies at California postsecondary institutions participating in the Cal Grant Program, requiring schools to implement comprehensive processes for estimating and adjusting student expenses by the 2026-27 academic year.
The bill requires qualifying institutions to set off-campus housing budgets at minimum levels tied to local median rents and establish clear procedures for adjusting cost of attendance calculations. Schools must consider adjustments for expenses including housing, transportation, computer purchases, medical costs, and dependent care. The legislation mandates that institutions process adjustment requests within 14 days, accept both electronic and paper submissions, and provide students whose requests are denied with explanations and opportunities for secondary review.
Under the new requirements, institutions must publicly display their cost of attendance methodology and data sources on their websites. The bill allows students to submit adjustment requests throughout their enrollment without numerical limits, though schools may set submission deadlines no earlier than three weeks before term end. Institutions must waive documentation requirements when records cannot be reasonably obtained, accepting written statements or interviews attesting to expenses. The legislation also requires schools to incorporate information about the adjustment process into financial aid award letters using student-friendly language.
The changes build upon existing Cal Grant Program eligibility criteria, which include institutional cohort default rates, graduation rates, and annual adjustments to income and asset ceilings based on cost-of-living increases. The bill maintains current provisions allowing schools to appeal eligibility determinations in certain circumstances, such as when small cohort sizes may not represent overall institutional performance.
![]() Marc BermanD Assemblymember | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
![]() Joaquin ArambulaD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
![]() Buffy WicksD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
![]() Lisa CalderonD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
![]() Mike FongD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted |
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Assembly Member Berman's legislation mandates new cost of attendance policies at California postsecondary institutions participating in the Cal Grant Program, requiring schools to implement comprehensive processes for estimating and adjusting student expenses by the 2026-27 academic year.
The bill requires qualifying institutions to set off-campus housing budgets at minimum levels tied to local median rents and establish clear procedures for adjusting cost of attendance calculations. Schools must consider adjustments for expenses including housing, transportation, computer purchases, medical costs, and dependent care. The legislation mandates that institutions process adjustment requests within 14 days, accept both electronic and paper submissions, and provide students whose requests are denied with explanations and opportunities for secondary review.
Under the new requirements, institutions must publicly display their cost of attendance methodology and data sources on their websites. The bill allows students to submit adjustment requests throughout their enrollment without numerical limits, though schools may set submission deadlines no earlier than three weeks before term end. Institutions must waive documentation requirements when records cannot be reasonably obtained, accepting written statements or interviews attesting to expenses. The legislation also requires schools to incorporate information about the adjustment process into financial aid award letters using student-friendly language.
The changes build upon existing Cal Grant Program eligibility criteria, which include institutional cohort default rates, graduation rates, and annual adjustments to income and asset ceilings based on cost-of-living increases. The bill maintains current provisions allowing schools to appeal eligibility determinations in certain circumstances, such as when small cohort sizes may not represent overall institutional performance.
Ayes | Noes | NVR | Total | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
10 | 0 | 0 | 10 | PASS |
![]() Marc BermanD Assemblymember | Bill Author | Not Contacted | |
![]() Joaquin ArambulaD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
![]() Buffy WicksD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
![]() Lisa CalderonD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted | |
![]() Mike FongD Assemblymember | Committee Member | Not Contacted |