(a) For purposes of this article, “dependent child” or “dependent children” means a child or children, as applicable, under 18 years of age whose parent or legal guardian is the student, if the child or all the children collectively receive more than 50 percent of their support from the student.

(b) Commencing with the 2019–20 academic year and each academic year thereafter, the commission shall identify all individuals with a dependent child or dependent children who meet both of the following qualifying criteria for the award year:

(1) The student will receive either a new or renewal Cal Grant A, B, or C award.

(2) The student will attend a University of California, California State University, or California Community College campus.

(c) Individuals identified by the commission as meeting qualifying criteria pursuant to subdivision (b) and who are receiving a Cal Grant A award or Cal Grant B award shall receive a total annual access award not to exceed six thousand dollars ($6,000). This amount may be adjusted in the annual Budget Act.

(d) Individuals identified by the commission as meeting qualifying criteria pursuant to subdivision (b) and who are receiving a Cal Grant C award shall receive a total annual book and supply award not to exceed four thousand dollars ($4,000). This amount may be adjusted in the annual Budget Act. Consistent with subdivision (e) of Section 69439, awards issued pursuant to this subdivision may be used for living expenses, institutional fees, charges, and other costs, including tuition and training-related costs, such as special clothing, local transportation, and required tools, equipment, supplies, technology, and books.

(e) Notwithstanding any other law, expenses paid with access awards granted pursuant to subdivision (c), and book and supply awards granted pursuant to subdivision (d), shall be considered allowable educational expenses and shall not be considered for purposes of determining eligibility for state public assistance programs.

(f) Notwithstanding any other law, an award provided pursuant to this article shall be excluded from the calculation of the maximum annual award value for purposes of subparagraph (A) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (b) of Section 69432.9.

(g) The usage of awards provided pursuant to this article shall be consistent with existing statutes and regulations governing eligible expenditures.

(h) Notwithstanding subdivisions (c) and (d), both of the following shall apply for purposes of this article:

(1) The amount appropriated in the annual Budget Act, and any other appropriation for purposes of this article, shall not exceed one hundred twenty-five million dollars ($125,000,000).

(2) The commission shall annually determine if the amount appropriated for each fiscal year is sufficient to cover the cumulative cost of the funding projected to be awarded for the fiscal year pursuant to this article. If the commission determines that the amount appropriated is not sufficient to meet the funding projection for a fiscal year, the commission shall reduce awards proportionately by an equal percentage for all new recipients under this article for that fiscal year.

(Added by Stats. 2019, Ch. 53, Sec. 14. (SB 77) Effective July 1, 2019.)