Existing law establishes the Student Aid Commission as the primary state agency for the administration of state-authorized student financial aid programs available to students attending all segments of postsecondary education. Under existing law, the commission, among other things, administers the Cal Grant Program, the Student Opportunity and Access Program, the Assumption Program of Loans for Education, the Graduate Assumption Program of Loans for Education, the Public Interest Attorney Loan Repayment Program, and the California State Work-Study Program.

This bill would enact the Plan Against College Hunger Act of 2018. The act would establish the Plan Against College Hunger Program under the administration of the commission for the purpose of preventing hunger among students at public postsecondary educational institutions, as defined. The bill would require the commission to provide awards to eligible students equal to the amount of the cost of a meal plan that would cover 10 meals per week, as provided. The bill, notwithstanding any other law, and to the extent permitted by federal law, would prohibit an award received pursuant to these provisions from being considered as income for the purpose of determining eligibility in any state or county administered needs-tested financial aid or public benefit. The bill would make these provisions operative only if funds are specifically appropriated for the purposes of these provisions in the annual Budget Act or another statute.

Existing law establishes the Student Aid Commission as the primary state agency for the administration of state-authorized student financial aid programs available to students attending all segments of postsecondary education. Under existing law, the commission, among other things, administers the Cal Grant Program, the Student Opportunity and Access Program, the Assumption Program of Loans for Education, the Graduate Assumption Program of Loans for Education, the Public Interest Attorney Loan Repayment Program, and the California State Work-Study Program.

This bill would enact the Plan Against College Hunger Act of 2018. The act would establish the Plan Against College Hunger Program under the administration of the commission for the purpose of reimbursing public postsecondary educational institutions, as defined, that provide student meal plans at no cost to students attending more than part time and who are Cal Grant recipients. preventing hunger among students at public postsecondary educational institutions, as defined. The bill would impose requirements on the student meal plans that may be reimbursed under the program. The act would create the Plan Against College Hunger Fund in the State Treasury, and would provide that moneys in the fund are required to be expended by the commission, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of the program and to reimburse the commission for its administrative costs related to administering the program. The bill would authorize the commission to seek grants and accept donations from private and public organizations and agencies for the purposes of the program for deposit in the fund. The bill would require the commission to inform, to the extent possible, Cal Grant award recipients of public postsecondary educational institutions electing to participate in the program and of their eligibility under the program. require the commission to provide awards to eligible students equal to the amount of the cost of a meal plan that would cover 10 meals per week, as provided. The bill, notwithstanding any other law, and to the extent permitted by federal law, would prohibit a student meal plan an award received pursuant to these provisions from being considered as income for the purpose of determining eligibility in any state or county administered needs-tested financial aid or public benefit. The bill would make these provisions operative only if funds are specifically appropriated for the purposes of these provisions in the annual Budget Act or another statute.

Existing law establishes the Student Aid Commission as the primary state agency for the administration of state-authorized student financial aid programs available to students attending all segments of postsecondary education. Under existing law, the commission, among other things, administers the Cal Grant Program, the Student Opportunity and Access Program, the Assumption Program of Loans for Education, the Graduate Assumption Program of Loans for Education, the Public Interest Attorney Loan Repayment Program, and the California State Work-Study Program.

This bill would enact the Plan Against College Hunger Act of 2018. The act would establish the Plan Against College Hunger Program under the administration of the commission for the purpose of reimbursing public postsecondary educational institutions, as defined, that provide student meal plans at no cost to students attending more than part time and who are Cal Grant recipients. The bill would impose requirements on the student meal plans that may be reimbursed under the program. The act would create the Plan Against College Hunger Fund in the State Treasury, and would provide that moneys in the fund are required to be expended by the commission, upon appropriation by the Legislature, for the purposes of the program and to reimburse the commission for its administrative costs related to administering the program. The bill would authorize the commission to seek grants and accept donations from private and public organizations and agencies for the purposes of the program for deposit in the fund. The bill would require the commission to inform, to the extent possible, Cal Grant award recipients of public postsecondary educational institutions electing to participate in the program and of their eligibility under the program. The bill, notwithstanding any other law, would prohibit a student meal plan received pursuant to these provisions from being considered as income for the purpose of determining eligibility in any state needs-tested financial aid or public benefit.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Senator Ricardo Lara, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular Session

SB 1275 (Stern) - Public postsecondary education: Plan Against College Hunger Act of 2018

This bill meets the criteria for referral to the Suspense File.

Bill Summary:

This bill establishes, under the administration of the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), a new grant award program for the purpose of preventing hunger among students at public postsecondary educational institutions who are eligible for the Cal Grant B Program.

Fiscal Impact:

• While the bill provides that the grant program shall only be operative if funds are provided for its purpose in the Budget Act or another statute, this bill would result in significant General Fund cost pressure to fund it. Based on the number of Cal Grant B eligible students attending the various segments and the estimated cost to cover 10 meals per week, the amount necessary to fund the program would be $480 million each year (General Fund). This amount could increase if the CSAC determines a higher award amount or if there are more students that qualify.
• The CSAC would likely require additional administrative and programming costs to implement the new grant program. These costs are unknown, but could be in the low hundreds of thousands in General Fund each year.

Background:

Existing law authorizes the Cal Grant program, administered by the CSAC, to provide grants to financially needy students to attend a college or university. The Cal Grant programs include both the entitlement and the competitive Cal Grant awards. The program consists of the Cal Grant A, Cal B, and Cal Grant C programs, and eligibility is based upon financial need, grade point average, California residency and other criteria.

The state’s Cal Grant program provides college access for low-income Californians by covering tuition and some non-tuition costs (Cal Grant B access award $1,672). Students must meet income and assets standards established under current law. Conversations about college affordability and improving financial aid in California have revolved around helping financially needy families offset the total cost of education beyond tuition. Students incur attendance costs for books, supplies and living expenses (food and housing).

Existing law requires the CSAC to notify Cal Grant recipients who qualify for participation in the CalFresh program and provides clarity to existing policies and definitions in order to simplify CalFresh administration for college students.

Existing law also establishes, until January 1, 2022, “hunger-free campus,” designation requirements which include, designating an employee to help students enroll in CalFresh, having an on-campus food pantry and meal sharing program as described. A campus that meets those requirements is eligible for a funding incentive upon appropriation of the Legislature.

Proposed Law:

This bill establishes the Plan Against College Hunger program, under the administration of the CSAC, for purposes of preventing hunger among students at public postsecondary education institutions.

This bill authorizes the program to provide an award to a Cal Grant B eligible student attending a public postsecondary institution at least half-time, and requires the CSAC to:

1. Provide awards to eligible students equal to the amount of the cost of a meal plan that would cover 10 meals per week.
2. Issue the award at the same time as Cal Grant awards are issued.

The bill specifies that the provisions relative to the program do not require a public postsecondary education institution to provide a student meal plan to any student, and prohibits an award received under the program from being considered as income for the purpose of determining eligibility in any state or county administered needs-tested financial aid or public benefit.

The bill provides that the program requirements are not operative unless funding has been appropriated for that purpose in the annual Budget Act or another statute.

Staff Comments:

The bill specifies that the amount of the award is equal to the cost of a meal plan that would cover 10 meals per week in each sector, as determined by the CSAC annually. College meal plans currently vary from campus to campus and across the different segments. For example a 10 meal per-week plan for the 2017-18 academic year at the California State University, Sacramento is approximately $3,912 while the same plan is $2,813 at California State University, Los Angeles. At the community colleges, the Chancellor’s Office estimates a 10 meal per-week plan to be about $1,920 per year. The UC estimates the average meal plan to be roughly $4,000 per year. It’s unclear if the award amount would be quantified for each campus or be based on a systemwide average. It appears that this determination would be left to CSAC under the bill’s provisions.

Assuming about 240,000 Cal Grant B Program eligible students at a cost of $2,000 each, annual General Fund costs would be $480 million. This amount could increase if the CSAC determines a higher award amount or if there are more students that qualify.

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SENATE COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION

Senator Benjamin Allen, Chair

2017 - 2018 Regular

Bill No: SB 1275 Hearing Date: April 4, 2018

Subject: Public postsecondary education: Plan Against College Hunger Act of 2018

SUMMARY

This bill creates the Plan Against College Hunger Act of 2018 and establishes, under the administration of the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), a new grant award program for a student who is Cal Grant eligible for the purpose of preventing hunger among students at public postsecondary educational institutions.

BACKGROUND

Existing law:

1. Authorizes the Cal Grant program, administered by the CSAC, to provide grants to financially needy students to attend a college or university. The Cal Grant programs include both the entitlement and the competitive Cal Grant awards. The program consists of the Cal Grant A, Cal B, and Cal Grant C programs, and eligibility is based upon financial need, grade point average, California residency and other criteria. (Education Code § 69430-69433.9)
2. Requires the CSAC to notify Cal Grant recipients who qualify for participation in the CalFresh program and provides clarity to existing policies and definitions in order to simplify CalFresh administration for college students. (EC § 69519.3)
3. Requires each public and private postsecondary education institution that is located in a county that participates in the Restaurant Meals Program to apply to become an approved food vendor for participation in this program. (EC § 66025.93)
4. Establishes, until January 1, 2022, “hunger-free campus,” designation requirements which include, designating an employee to help students enroll in CalFresh, having an on-campus food pantry and meal sharing program as described. A campus that meets those requirements is eligible for a funding incentive upon appropriation of the Legislature. (EC § 66027.8)

ANALYSIS

This bill creates the Plan Against College Hunger Act of 2018, specifically it,

1. Establishes the Plan Against College Hunger program, under the administration of the California Student Aid Commission (CSAC), for purposes of preventing hunger among students at public postsecondary education institutions.
2. Authorizes the program to provide an award to a Cal Grant eligible student attending a public postsecondary institution at least half-time.
3. Requires the CSAC to:
   1. Provide awards to eligible students equal to the amount of the cost of a

meal plan that would cover 10 meals per week.

• 1. Annually adjust the amount of the award.
  2. Issue the award at the same time as Cal Grant awards are issued.

1. Specifies that the provisions relative to the program do not require a public postsecondary education institution to provide a student meal plan to any student.
2. Defines various terms for the purpose of the bill.

1. Prohibits an award received under the program from being considered as income for the purpose of determining eligibility in any state or county administered needs-tested financial aid or public benefit.
2. Provides that the program requirements are not operative unless funding has been appropriated for that purpose in the annual Budget Act or another statute.

STAFF COMMENTS

1. Need for the bill. According to the author, “food insecurity and chronic hunger are rampant on college campuses throughout California. The CalFresh Program is limited in its reach due to a federal rule which makes non-exempt students ineligible for aid. Food Pantries, though increasing in their prevalence on college campuses, can only go so far to address the problem. Big, bold initiatives are necessary to address the crisis of food insecurity among students with the urgency it deserves.” This bill seeks to address food insecurity among college students by establishing a new grant award program for a Cal Grant eligible student attending a public postsecondary institution.
2. Award amount? Under this measure, CSAC would be responsible for calculating the award amount. The bill specifies that the amount of the award is equal to the cost of a meal plan that would cover 10 meals per week. College meal plans vary from campus to campus and among each segment. For example a 10-meal-per-week plan for the 2017-18 academic year at the California State University, Sacramento is approximately $3,912 and $2,813 at Cal State LA. At the community colleges, the Chancellor’s Office estimates that a 10-meal-per-week plan to be about $1,920 per year. The UC estimates the average meal plan to be roughly $4,000. It’s unclear if the award amount would be quantified for each campus or be based on a systemwide average. It appears that this determination would be left to California Student Aid Commission (CSAC).
3. Existing efforts addressing college hunger on public campuses.

The University of California (UC) launched the Global Food Initiative, and in March 2014, the President of the UC allocated $377,000 per campus to fund efforts in research, student support services, educational programming and engagement. These efforts, among other things, have resulted in the creation or expansion of food pantry and distribution services on each UC campus, available to all students with need and the creation of undergraduate campus dining meal donation programs.

The California State University (CSU), Chancellor’s Office affirms that all 23 campuses have a food pantry or food distribution program, a majority of campuses offer meals through meal sharing or meal voucher programs and five of the CSU campuses accept Electronic Benefit Transfer with additional campuses in development.

At the community colleges, the Chancellor’s Office reports that various systemwide efforts are underway to coordinate CalFresh enrollment on campuses for students, this includes training faculty and staff and partnering with the California Association of Food Banks to bring outreach workers onto campuses to support students with CalFresh enrollment. The Chancellor’s office also coordinates with the California Association of Food Banks to leverage low cost food to stock campus food pantries. Strategies to identify and promote best practices are also ongoing.

Each segment participates in intersegmental Higher Education Basic Needs workgroup designed to improve coordination and share evidence-based practices to address student needs around food and housing. The Budget Act of 2017 provides $2.5 million to UC, CSU and California Community Colleges (CCC) to support some of the work mentioned in the above paragraphs, specifically to support student enrollment in CalFresh, establishes on-campus food pantries and meal sharing programs.

1. Total cost of education is more than tuition. The state’s Cal Grant program provides college access for low-income Californians by covering tuition and some non-tuition costs (Cal Grant B access award $1,672). Students must meet income and assets standards established under current law. Conversations about college affordability and improving financial aid in California have revolved around helping financially needy families offset the total cost of education beyond tuition. Students incur attendance costs for books, supplies and living expenses (food and housing). According to the CSAC, “non-tuition” costs exceed $18,000 annually for CCC students living independently. Additionally, research by, The Institute for College Access & Success (TICAS) reveals a student’s ability to pay the full cost of attendance is an important factor in his or her success. TICAS notes, a student who cannot afford to fully cover access costs such as textbooks, transportation, food, and housing may make choices that undermine their ability to complete their education. For example, they may need to work more hours at the expense of studying. In response to this need, the state has increased efforts to provide additional aid specifically to cover living expense.
2. Things to consider. This bill establishes a separate grant aid program to address a specific need, food insecurity. A student must meet criteria for Cal Grant eligibility and it appears that the award could be used for other non-tuition costs. The proposed program would be administered by California Student Aid Commission, also administers the Cal Grant program. Is creating a new aid program necessary? Could a similar goal be reached by increasing the Cal Grant B access award amount which is designed to cover non-tuition costs (i.e. living expenses and expenses for transportation, supplies, and books)? Proponents of this measure argue the that issue of college hunger is escalated and the response should be intentional and targeted for that purpose.
3. Author’s Amendments. The author wishes, staff agrees, that the bill be amended as follows:

(3) All students attending a public postsecondary educational institution with an enrollment status of half-time or more and who are eligible for a Cal Grant Cal Grant B award pursuant to Chapter 1.7 (commencing with Section 69430), shall be eligible for an award under the program.

(4) A student eligible for the program shall receive an award from the commission equal to the amount of the cost of a meal plan that would cover 10 meals per week in each sector, as determined by the Commission annually.

(5) The commission shall annually adjust the amount of the award to be issued by the program.

SUPPORT

Alliance for Children’s Rights

Western Center on Law and Poverty

A Jewish Response to Hunger

Young Invincibles, West Coast

National Association of Social Workers, California Chapter

Alliance for Children’s Rights

OPPOSITION

None received

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