(a) The Student Aid Commission is responsible for issuing awards authorized by Section 69999.16, upon receipt of a certificate from the Adjutant General verifying that the applicant meets the eligibility requirements of this article. The commission shall provide any information to the Military Department that is necessary to meet the reporting requirements of Section 69999.24.

(b) The amount of an award issued pursuant to this article shall be as follows:

(1) For a recipient attending the University of California or the California State University, the maximum amount of the Cal Grant A award, pursuant to Section 66021.2, as adjusted in the annual Budget Act.

(2) For a recipient attending a community college, the maximum amount of the Cal Grant B award, pursuant to Section 66021.2, as adjusted in the annual Budget Act.

(3) For a recipient attending a nonpublic institution, the maximum amount of a Cal Grant A award for a student attending the University of California pursuant to Section 66021.2, as adjusted in the annual Budget Act.

(c) An award used for graduate studies shall not exceed the maximum amount of a Cal Grant A award, as specified in paragraph (1) of subdivision (b).

(d) The award amount under subdivisions (b) and (c) shall not exceed the difference between the recipient’s cost of attendance and any other student financial aid and educational benefits pursuant to the federal Montgomery GI Bill (38 U.S.C. Sec. 3001 et seq.) or any other federal educational benefits program for veterans.

(e) California Military Department GI Bill awards may be renewed for each new academic year, for a maximum of the greater of either (1) four years of full-time equivalent enrollment or (2) the duration for which the qualifying member would otherwise be eligible pursuant to the Cal Grant Program (Chapter 1.7 (commencing with Section 69430)), if the Adjutant General certifies the qualifying member’s eligibility and the qualifying member maintains at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average.

(Amended by Stats. 2018, Ch. 547, Sec. 6. (AB 2722) Effective January 1, 2019. Article conditionally operative as provided in Section 69999.28.)