(a) It is the intent of the Legislature, in enacting this article, to enhance the long-term policy of the Ortiz-Pacheco-Poochigian-Vasconcellos Cal Grant Program and the state’s historic commitment, as stated in Section 66021.2, of providing educational opportunity by ensuring all students with financial need with access to, and choice of, an institution of higher education.

(b) It is further the intent of the Legislature that, pursuant to this article, the commission implement a pilot alternative delivery system within the Cal Grant Program that would provide program functions consistent with access to, and choice of, institutions for students with financial need. The pilot alternative delivery system should take advantage of, and not impair, the efficiencies of the recent Internet-based improvements to the commission’s Grant Delivery System by allowing qualifying institutions to elect to award Cal Grant awards pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 69434), Article 3 (commencing with Section 69435), and Article 4 (commencing with Section 69436) for students admitted to those institutions, and by ensuring that those qualifying institutions function as a one-stop shop for financial aid information by providing assistance to students, parents, and high school and community college counselors seeking information about the Cal Grant Program and other student financial aid.

(c) It is the intent of the Legislature that awards and services to students not be disrupted in the implementation of this article.

(Added by Stats. 2009, Ch. 644, Sec. 4. (AB 187) Effective November 5, 2009.)