(a) Any California resident is entitled to receive a Cal Grant B award, and the commission shall allocate that award pursuant to Section 66021.2, if all of the following criteria are met:

(1) (A) The student has submitted, pursuant to Section 69432.9, a complete financial aid application, submitted or postmarked no later than March 2 of the academic year of high school graduation or its equivalent for the award year immediately following the academic year of high school graduation or its equivalent, no later than March 2 of the academic year following high school graduation or its equivalent for the second award year following the year of high school graduation or its equivalent, or, if applicable to the student, pursuant to the following dates:

(i) No later than March 2 of the academic year immediately prior to the year for which funds would be applied, if the student is a current or former foster youth, is attending a qualifying institution that offers baccalaureate degrees, and has not yet reached 26 years of age as of July 1 of the initial award year.

(ii) No later than September 2 of the academic year for which funds would be applied, if the student is a current or former foster youth, is attending a California community college, and has not yet reached 26 years of age as of July 1 of the initial award year.

(B) For purposes of this section, “current or former foster youth” has the same meaning as specified in paragraph (2) of subdivision (e) of Section 69433.6.

(2) The student demonstrates financial need pursuant to Section 69433.

(3) The student attains a high school grade point average of at least 2.0 on a four-point scale.

(4) The student’s household has an income and asset level that does not exceed the level for Cal Grant B recipients as set forth in Section 69432.7.

(5) The student is pursuing an undergraduate academic program of not less than one academic year that is offered by a qualifying institution.

(6) The student is enrolled at least part time.

(7) The student meets the general Cal Grant eligibility requirements set forth in Article 1 (commencing with Section 69430).

(8) The student graduated from high school or its equivalent during or after the 2000–01 academic year.

(b) A student, including a community college student participating in upper division coursework in a baccalaureate degree program pursuant to Article 3 (commencing with Section 78040) of Chapter 1 of Part 48 of Division 7, who meets the Cal Grant B Entitlement Program or Competitive Program criteria specified in this article shall receive a Cal Grant B award for access costs and tuition and fees, as applicable, pursuant to Section 66021.2.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 33, Sec. 13. (AB 1809) Effective June 27, 2018.)