AB-1241
Education

Student financial aid: Pay-It-Forward Financial Aid Program.

Introduced
CA
2025-2026 Regular Session
0
0
Track

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a Pay-It-Forward program allowing UC and CSU students to attend college without paying upfront costs.
  • Requires graduates to repay a percentage of their income instead of taking traditional student loans.
  • Creates a dedicated fund from graduate repayments to support future students' education costs.
  • Mandates UC and CSU campuses to enroll at least 10,000 students in the program by 2030.

Summary

Assembly Member Schiavo's Pay-It-Forward Financial Aid Program legislation aims to create an alternative financing pathway for California State University and University of California students by eliminating upfront costs for tuition, fees, and room and board in exchange for future income-based payments. Under the proposed program, participating students would sign contracts agreeing to pay a percentage of their annual adjusted gross income to the state after graduation or leaving school, with payments capped at the total amount received through the program.

The bill establishes the Pay-It-Forward Financial Aid Fund to collect graduate payments and finance future students' education costs. The Student Aid Commission would administer the program in consultation with CSU and UC leadership, with authority to accept additional funding through gifts, grants, and other sources. The program would operate as a supplement to existing financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and loans.

Implementation would occur in phases, with all CSU and UC campuses required to offer the program beginning in the 2028-29 academic year. By 2030-31, the university systems must enroll at least 10,000 students annually in the program. The legislation comes as California students face average borrowing of $21,125 for undergraduate degrees, contributing to over $142 billion in outstanding student loan debt statewide as of 2020, according to the bill's legislative findings.

The Student Aid Commission would determine key program parameters through rulemaking, including the specific percentage of income graduates must contribute and the duration of payment obligations. The commission would also establish mechanisms for tracking graduate employment and income, collecting payments, and managing the revolving fund to sustain the program for future cohorts of students.

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Al MuratsuchiD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tasha Boerner HorvathD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Bill EssayliR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Corey JacksonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 12 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Al MuratsuchiD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tasha Boerner HorvathD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Bill EssayliR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Corey JacksonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Pilar SchiavoD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Carl DeMaioR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jeff GonzalezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Maggy KrellD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Darshana PatelD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Celeste RodriguezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
LaShae Sharp-CollinsD
Assemblymember
Committee Member

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Pilar Schiavo
Pilar SchiavoD
California State Assembly Member
10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Key Takeaways

  • Establishes a Pay-It-Forward program allowing UC and CSU students to attend college without paying upfront costs.
  • Requires graduates to repay a percentage of their income instead of taking traditional student loans.
  • Creates a dedicated fund from graduate repayments to support future students' education costs.
  • Mandates UC and CSU campuses to enroll at least 10,000 students in the program by 2030.

Get Involved

Act Now!

Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

Introduced By

Pilar Schiavo
Pilar SchiavoD
California State Assembly Member

Summary

Assembly Member Schiavo's Pay-It-Forward Financial Aid Program legislation aims to create an alternative financing pathway for California State University and University of California students by eliminating upfront costs for tuition, fees, and room and board in exchange for future income-based payments. Under the proposed program, participating students would sign contracts agreeing to pay a percentage of their annual adjusted gross income to the state after graduation or leaving school, with payments capped at the total amount received through the program.

The bill establishes the Pay-It-Forward Financial Aid Fund to collect graduate payments and finance future students' education costs. The Student Aid Commission would administer the program in consultation with CSU and UC leadership, with authority to accept additional funding through gifts, grants, and other sources. The program would operate as a supplement to existing financial aid, including grants, scholarships, and loans.

Implementation would occur in phases, with all CSU and UC campuses required to offer the program beginning in the 2028-29 academic year. By 2030-31, the university systems must enroll at least 10,000 students annually in the program. The legislation comes as California students face average borrowing of $21,125 for undergraduate degrees, contributing to over $142 billion in outstanding student loan debt statewide as of 2020, according to the bill's legislative findings.

The Student Aid Commission would determine key program parameters through rulemaking, including the specific percentage of income graduates must contribute and the duration of payment obligations. The commission would also establish mechanisms for tracking graduate employment and income, collecting payments, and managing the revolving fund to sustain the program for future cohorts of students.

10% progression
Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/21/2025)

Key Dates

Next Step
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education
Next Step
Assembly Committee
Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Higher Education
Hearing has not been scheduled yet
Introduced
Assembly Floor
Introduced
Introduced. To print.

Contacts

Profile
Al MuratsuchiD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Tasha Boerner HorvathD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Bill EssayliR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
Profile
Corey JacksonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Not Contacted
Not Contacted
0 of 12 row(s) selected.
Page 1 of 3
Select All Legislators
Profile
Al MuratsuchiD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Tasha Boerner HorvathD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Mike FongD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Bill EssayliR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Corey JacksonD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Pilar SchiavoD
Assemblymember
Bill Author
Profile
Carl DeMaioR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Jeff GonzalezR
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Maggy KrellD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Darshana PatelD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
Celeste RodriguezD
Assemblymember
Committee Member
Profile
LaShae Sharp-CollinsD
Assemblymember
Committee Member