ARTICLE 1.5. General Provisions [69503. - 69509.6.]

Cal. Education Code - EDC 1.5.

in effect

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69503. Section 69503.

In enacting this article, the Legislature finds and declares: (a) The awarding of financial assistance to needy students by state-funded student aid programs appropriately considers family income in determining an applicant’s financial need. (b) Claiming of financial independence by students whose parents are in fact able to provide financial assistance unfairly redirects limited student aid dollars from students with legitimate financial need. (c) Definitions and procedures by which a student may declare financial independence from the student’s parents differ among state-funded student aid programs and among institutions. A statutory definition of when a student’s eligibility for need-based, state-funded grants is to be determined without regard to his or her parents’ financial circumstances will reduce confusion and ensure that such grants are allocated to students on the basis of a more equitable evaluation of their financial need.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69503.6. Section 69503.6.

Each institution of higher education with a physical presence in this state shall separately list the cost of institutionally operated housing and meal plans on all Internet Web sites and documents it provides to students for purposes of advertising or otherwise displaying the student costs associated with institutionally operated housing.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69504. Section 69504.

The provisions of this article apply to all need-based student grants that are funded by the state or a public postsecondary educational institution. Nothing in this article shall be construed as attempting to regulate the selection or awarding of scholarships to applicants by the state or a public postsecondary educational institution where the scholarships are funded and awarded pursuant to the terms of a private endowment, trust, or similar instrument.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69504.5. Section 69504.5.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, students who are victims of trafficking, domestic violence, and other serious crimes who have been granted a status under Section 1101(a)(15)(T)(i) or (ii), or Section 1101(a)(15)(U)(i) or (ii), of Title 8 of the United States Code shall be eligible to apply for, and participate in, all student financial aid programs and scholarships administered by a public postsecondary educational institution or the State of California to the same extent as individuals who are admitted to the United States as refugees under Section 1157 of Title 8 of the United States Code. (b) The University of California is requested to adopt policies that are consistent with this section.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69505. Section 69505.

(a) To the extent that federal financial analysis methodology incorporates this exemption, income received as reparation payments paid pursuant to federal law on or after October 1, 1990, for the purpose of redressing the injustice done to United States citizens and permanent residents of Japanese ancestry who were interned during World War II shall not be considered in determining an applicant’s financial need. (b) To the extent that federal financial analysis methodology incorporates this exemption, income received as reparation payments paid by the Canadian government for the purpose of redressing the injustice done to persons of Japanese ancestry who were interned in Canada during World War II shall not be considered in determining an applicant’s financial need.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69505.5. Section 69505.5.

(a) (1) No campus of the California Community Colleges or the California State University shall enter into a contract on or after January 1, 2014, with any entity, whether a specific depository institution or an entity that partners with one or more depository institutions, that requires a student to open an account with that entity as a condition of the student receiving his or her financial aid disbursement. (2) Each campus of the University of California is requested to not enter into a contract on or after January 1, 2014, with any entity, whether a specific depository institution or an entity that partners with one or more depository institutions, that requires a student to open an account with that entity as a condition of the student receiving his or her financial aid disbursement. (b) (1) Each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall offer a student the option of receiving his or her financial aid disbursement via direct deposit into an account at a depository institution of the student’s choosing. Each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University shall ensure that its contract or contracts for financial aid disbursement entered into on or after January 1, 2014, provide that the contracting entity shall initiate the direct deposit within one business day of receipt of the financial aid disbursement moneys from each campus of the California Community Colleges and the California State University. (2) Each campus of the University of California is requested to offer a student the option of receiving his or her financial aid disbursement via direct deposit into an account at a depository institution of the student’s choosing. Each campus of the University of California is requested to ensure that its contract or contracts for financial aid disbursement entered into on or after January 1, 2014, provide that the contracting entity shall initiate the direct deposit within one business day of receipt of the financial aid disbursement moneys from each campus of the University of California.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69505.8. Section 69505.8.

(a) The Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges and the Trustees of the California State University shall, and the Regents of the University of California and each governing body of an accredited private postsecondary educational institution are requested to, develop one or more model contracts for use at their respective systems for the disbursement of a financial aid award, scholarship, campus-based aid award, or school refund onto a debit card, prepaid card, or other preloaded card issued by a financial institution. Each model contract shall be developed in consultation with stakeholders including statewide student associations, individual campuses, and financial institutions that issue debit cards, prepaid cards, and preloaded cards and shall not be finalized before public comment is sought and considered. (b) The board of governors and the trustees shall, and the regents and each governing body of an accredited private postsecondary educational institution are requested to, make every model contract developed under subdivision (a), and every binding contract negotiated by an educational institution under the jurisdiction of one of these governing bodies with a financial institution for the disbursement of a financial aid award, scholarship, campus-based aid award, or school refund onto a debit card, prepaid card, or preloaded card, publicly available on its Internet Web site. (c) Every model contract developed under subdivision (a) shall consider the best interests of students and shall, at a minimum, contain provisions that reflect conditions required for compliance with federal regulations governing the disbursement of federal financial aid. (d) When developing each model contract, the board of governors and the trustees shall, and the regents and each governing body of an accredited private postsecondary educational institution are requested to, consider all of the following: (1) The number of on-campus locations and proximity of off-campus locations where a fee-free withdrawal could be made by a student using a debit card, prepaid card, or preloaded card. (2) The type and size of fees a student would incur from debit, prepaid, or preloaded card use and whether provisions of the model contract ensure that the educational institution is provided information by the card-issuing financial institution to evaluate the costs of these fees to students. (3) The impact, if any, that offering a card displaying the name or mascot of a campus or educational system would have on students, that campus, or that educational system. (4) Whether provisions of the model contract ensure that the educational institution monitors compliance by the financial institution with federal Title IV requirements governing the disbursement of financial aid. (5) Whether provisions of the model contract ensure a process for the tracking and resolution of student complaints about the card-issuing financial institution’s credit delivery, customer service, and debit, prepaid, or preloaded cards. (6) The impact, if any, of the content of a dispute resolution clause on students, their campus, and their educational system, if a conflict were to arise between a student and the card-issuing financial institution. (7) Whether provisions of the model contract ensure that the educational institution does not disclose student information to the card-issuing financial institution beyond what is necessary to perform the contracted financial aid award, scholarship, campus-based aid award, or school refund disbursement function. (8) Whether provisions of the model contract ensure that the card-issuing financial institution does not solicit or collect information from a student that is not necessary to perform the contracted financial aid award, scholarship, campus-based aid award, or school refund disbursement function as a condition of allowing the student to access a financial aid award, scholarship, campus-based aid award, or school refund through a debit card, prepaid card, or preloaded card.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69506. Section 69506.

(a) The methodology set forth in federal law or regulation shall serve as the formula for determining the expected family contribution of students seeking any state-funded financial assistance. (b) For the purposes of determining the dependent and independent status of students, the definition set forth in the federal law or regulation shall serve as the definition for students seeking any state-funded financial assistance.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69506.3. Section 69506.3.

It is the intent of the Legislature that the commission, commencing with the 1991–92 academic year, shall implement the income verification process authorized in Section 19286.9 of the Revenue and Taxation Code, and develop procedures which allow postsecondary educational institutions to use information obtained through that process.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69506.5. Section 69506.5.

Notwithstanding Section 69506, the Student Aid Commission may, whenever it is determined to be in the best interest of the state, develop and adopt regulations that modify the methodology set forth in federal law or regulation for determining the expected family contribution of students seeking any state-funded financial assistance or the federal definition for establishing the dependent and independent status of students seeking any state-funded financial assistance. It is the Legislature’s intent that these regulations promote consistency between federal and state standards, encourage the maximum contribution from parents while being sensitive to individual student financial and personal circumstances, and encourage a simple financial aid application process. (a) The regulations developed pursuant to this section shall be adopted as Student Aid Commission regulations in accordance with the provisions of Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. (b) Prior to adopting or amending regulations pursuant to this section, the commission shall conduct, and make public, a full analysis which includes at least an examination and explanation of the cost of the change, the effect on student applicant and recipient eligibility and award levels, and the effects of implementing the criteria on those programs administered by the commission. (c) Not later than July 1 of the year following any modifications to the methodology for determining expected family contribution or the federal definition of student dependence or independence made pursuant to this section, the commission shall report to the Governor and the Legislature the impact of the changes on those programs administered by the commission.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69507. Section 69507.

In instances where an applicant does not meet the criteria specified in Section 69506, and the parents refuse to provide financial information, the student may not be considered for a grant. In those instances, however, the student may be considered for a loan or employment aid to the extent that such are available on the basis of the resources of the student and the student’s spouse, if any.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69507.5. Section 69507.5.

(a) Except as provided in subdivision (b), no student shall receive a grant or fellowship administered by the Student Aid Commission if he or she has previously defaulted on any student loan, or has failed to repay a federal or state student grant where required to do so. (b) If a student has made satisfactory arrangements to repay a default on a previous student loan, or to repay grant funds where required to do so, the student may be eligible to receive a grant or fellowship administered by the Student Aid Commission.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69508. Section 69508.

When federal regulations defining the financial independence of students are altered, the Student Aid Commission shall as soon as possible report to the Legislature on what changes are necessary to conform this article to federal standards.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69508.5. Section 69508.5.

(a) Notwithstanding any other law, a student who meets the requirements of subdivision (a) of Section 68130.5, or who meets equivalent requirements adopted by the Regents of the University of California, is eligible to apply for, and participate in, any student financial aid program administered by the State of California to the full extent permitted by federal law. The Legislature finds and declares that this section is a state law within the meaning of Section 1621(d) of Title 8 of the United States Code. (b) Notwithstanding any other law, the Student Aid Commission shall establish procedures and forms that enable students who are exempt from paying nonresident tuition under Section 68130.5, or who meet equivalent requirements adopted by the regents, to apply for, and participate in, all student financial aid programs administered by the State of California to the full extent permitted by federal law. (c) It is the intent of the Legislature that all forms of state-based aid in California be made equally available to students who are exempt, pursuant to Section 68130.5, from paying nonresident tuition and to all other students who qualify for state-based aid in this state.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69509. Section 69509.

(a) Upon the commencement of any cause of action, including an emergency action, by the commission against an educational institution in connection with the Federal Family Education Loan Program or other state student financial aid program, the director of the commission may order that all or any part of state financial aid funds scheduled to be delivered to that institution by the commission, whether payable to that institution or its students, be withheld from the institution and deposited in a separate state account. However, in order to alleviate the financial hardships imposed upon students by withholding the delivery of state financial aid funds to an educational institution, the director of the commission, at any time after the initial withholding, may release state financial aid funds to these students, giving first priority to the release of funds for subsistence payments. (b) The director shall give notice to the institution and affected students of any action taken pursuant to subdivision (a). (c) The director, upon the termination of any action taken pursuant to subdivision (a), shall order the disposition of the withheld funds in a manner consistent with the outcome of the cause of action and in the best interest of the affected students. The director may order that the funds be withheld from an institution permanently, in which case those funds shall be returned to the state fund or account from which it originated, for subsequent use by the commission. (d) “Cause of action” and “emergency action,” for the purposes of this section, mean those actions described in Sections 30302 and 30304 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, and as those sections may subsequently be amended, concerning the limitation, suspension, and termination of eligibility under the Federal Family Education Loan Program.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69509.5. Section 69509.5.

(a) Within five days of the commencement of any cause of action, including an emergency action, by the commission against a private postsecondary educational institution in connection with the Federal Family Education Loan Program, the director of the commission shall give notice, in writing, of the commencement of the action to the Council for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education. (b) “Cause of action” and “emergency action” for the purposes of this section, mean those actions described in Sections 30302 and 30304 of Title 5 of the California Code of Regulations, and as those sections may subsequently be amended, concerning the limitation, suspension, and termination of eligibility under the Federal Family Education Loan Program. (c) The director of the commission, or his or her designee, shall give written notice to the Council for Private Postsecondary and Vocational Education when, in the administration of a program review concerning any private postsecondary educational institution’s participation in the Cal Grant Program or the Federal Family Education Loan Program, evidence indicates that a private postsecondary educational institution is in violation of the standards adopted by its responsible accrediting agency or when it is in violation of Section 94800, Sections 94811 to 94825, inclusive, or Section 94930. (d) The director of the commission may develop selection criteria for the scheduled review of any private postsecondary or vocational educational institution. (e) This section shall become operative on January 1, 1997.

Cal. Education Code - EDC § 69509.6. Section 69509.6.

(a) Commencing with the 2018–19 award year, each higher education institution, except for the California Community Colleges, shall, to the extent that the institution receives a student borrower’s federal, state, and private education loan information, send an individualized letter, by regular mail or electronic mail, to that student that includes all of the following information: (1) An estimate of all of the following: (A) The total cumulative principal amount of his or her federal, state, and private education loans. (B) The potential total payoff amount of his or her federal, state, and private education loans incurred or a range of the total payoff amount. (C) Monthly repayment amounts that a similarly situated borrower may incur, including principal and interest, for the amount of loans the student has taken out at the time the information is provided, assuming a 10-year repayment plan under current federal loan interest rates. (2) A statement that the estimates provided pursuant to paragraph (1) are general in nature and not meant as a guarantee or promise of the actual projected amounts, and that they are based on the loan amounts that the institution is aware of and may not include all student debt incurred; that borrowers with private loans may have substantially higher payments; and that federal student loan borrowers may be eligible for repayment plans that extend beyond ten years. (3) Contact information for the institution’s financial aid office or a financial aid or academic adviser of the institution. (b) An institution described in subdivision (a) shall not incur liability for any representations made in the estimates provided pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a). (c) If an institution is not able to provide a student with estimates pursuant to paragraph (1) of subdivision (a), the institution shall inform the student in the letter described in subdivision (a) that he or she may view his or her financial aid history by establishing a federal student aid account, or accessing his or her federal student aid account if established, through the National Student Loan Data System. The institution shall provide the student with the Internet Web site link to the system.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026