(a) An individual selected for a Cal Grant A award who enrolls in a California community college may elect to have the award held in reserve for a period not to exceed two academic years, except that the commission may extend the period in which the individual’s award may be held in reserve for up to three academic years if, in the commission’s judgment, the rate of academic progress has been as rapid as could be expected for the personal and financial conditions that the student has encountered. The commission shall, in this case, hold the award in reserve for the additional year. Upon receipt of a request to transfer the award to a tuition or fee charging qualifying institution, the individual shall be eligible to receive the Cal Grant A award previously held in reserve if, at the time of the request, the individual meets all of the requirements of this article. Upon receipt of the request, the commission shall reassess the financial need of the award recipient. The commission may prescribe the forms and procedures to be utilized for the purposes of this section. A recipient’s years of eligibility for payment of benefits shall be based upon the recipient’s grade level at the time the award is transferred to the tuition or fee charging qualifying institution.

(b) (1) Individuals who are selected for a Cal Grant A award that is held in reserve pursuant to this section and who meet the qualifying criteria pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 69465 shall receive an award for access costs pursuant to Article 9 (commencing with Section 69465) of Chapter 1.7 of Part 42.

(2) The access award referenced in paragraph (1) shall be provided annually to a qualifying individual during the period of time that the individual’s Cal Grant A award is held in reserve and upon transfer to a tuition or fee charging qualifying institution, provided that the individual continues to meet the qualifying criteria pursuant to subdivision (b) of Section 69465.

(Amended by Stats. 2019, Ch. 53, Sec. 9. (SB 77) Effective July 1, 2019.)