SACRAMENTO - Assemblymember Paul Fong (D-Cupertino) announced his bill, AB 970, which increases college students' access to higher education, has reached the Assembly Committee on Appropriations.
"Without updates to the Cal Grant B Program, many deserving students will not be able to attend the college of their choice," said Assemblymember Fong. "We need to expand college opportunities so that we can head towards economic recovery and have increased productivity. California needs to invest in our youth because they will be the highly skilled workforce that can rebuild and grow economy on a national and global level."
The Cal Grant Program is California's financial aid program for college students. Cal Grants are awarded to students who meet certain income and academic requirements. The grants can be used to pay for any California Community College, California State University, University of California, private college, and most career technical or vocational schools.
When this program was created, it was assumed that low income students would go to a community college first. Currently, first-year students only receive Cal Grant B money to buy books and other school supplies; tuition must be paid by the student. Only the second-year students can use their money to pay for tuition and supplies.
AB 970 bill will change the unjust assumption that all low-income students must go to community colleges by allowing all Cal Grant B Program students to use their money to pay for tuition and supplies. AB 970 will allow many deserving students to attend the college of their choice because they will be able to afford the tuition during their critical first year of college.
Assemblymember Fong serves as Chair of the Elections and Redistricting Committee and is a member of the Higher Education, Utilities and Commerce, and Water, Parks, and Wildlife Committees. In addition, Assemblymember Fong serves as Chair of the Select Committee on High Technology and is a member of the Select Committees on Aerospace, Biotechnology, Community Colleges, Domestic Violence, and Innovation and the Bay Area Economy. He represents Cupertino, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara and San Jose.
CONTACT: Debbie Diaz Williams @ (916) 319-2022
