SB 685: California State University: financial aid for homeless students: pilot program.

Existing law establishes the California State University, under the administration of the Trustees of the California State University, as one of the segments of public postsecondary education in the state.

This bill, subject to an appropriation by the Legislature, would establish the Financial Assistance for Students Experiencing Homelessness Pilot Program, administered by each participating campus, to provide financial assistance at 3 4 California State University campuses to California residents, or specified students who are exempt from paying nonresident tuition, who (1) have been accepted for enrollment at one of those campuses, (2) were homeless at any time during high school, and (3) will be between 17 and 26 years of age, inclusive, upon receipt of assistance.

This bill would require, commencing with the 202627 academic year, each participating campus to provide financial assistance for the balance of the qualifying students cost of attendance that exceeds the financial aid, excluding federal loans, the qualifying student receives during the first 4 years the qualifying student participates in the pilot program. The bill would require the qualifying student to meet certain requirements to receive financial assistance under the pilot program, as specified. The bill would require each participating campus to adopt policies to administer the pilot program and to designate one existing employee as a liaison for qualifying students and prospective qualifying students, as provided.

This bill would require the commission to adopt the regulations necessary to carry out its duties under the program, and to enter into a data sharing agreement with the State Department of Education, as specified. The bill would require the office of the Chancellor of the California State University to, University, on or before December 31, 2030, to submit a report to the Legislature evaluating the efficacy of the pilot program based on specified data collected from each participating campus, as provided.

This bill would make these provisions inoperative on July 1, 2031, and would repeal them as of January 1, 2032.