(a) The commission, through an interagency agreement with the State Department of Social Services, currently operates a federally funded scholarship program, known as the Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers Program, that provides grant aid to provide access to Californiaâs current and former foster youth to postsecondary education. Funds provided through an appropriation by the Legislature shall be supplemental to funds provided by the federal government, and are designated to ensure program availability in the absence of and before the annual receipt of federal funds for this purpose. The department shall opt in, as necessary, to expand program age eligibility of former foster youth up to 26 years of age pursuant to federal program guidelines. The department shall pursue and seek possible Chafee Educational and Training Vouchers Program federal matching dollars. (b) Funds provided for this program shall be used to assist students who are current and former foster youth, for career and technical training or traditional college courses. The commission shall operate this program in accordance with the program instructions provided by the federal Department of Health and Human Services, Administration for Children and Families, and the program guidelines developed by the State Department of Social Services. (c) The total amount of funding and the amount of individual awards shall depend upon the amount of federal funding provided in addition to state funding. The commission, in conjunction with the State Department of Social Services, shall determine the individual award amounts and total number of students awarded on an annual basis as the amount of total annual funding is determined. (d) Commencing with the 2021â22 award year, the commission may make initial award offers totaling up to 200 percent of the total state and federal program funding available for all awards. Each year, the commission, in conjunction with the State Department of Social Services, shall determine the number of initial awards offered, based on the historical acceptance rate of initial awards and the size of awards, so not to exceed the total amount of available funding for the full award cycle. The commission shall make an award offer contingent upon available funding, and may adjust or withdraw an award offer before payment to ensure that total award payments do not exceed the total amount of available funding for the award cycle. The commission shall inform each recipient of an award offer that the offer may be withdrawn or adjusted before payment and that an award is payable to an eligible student only to the extent that funding is available. (e) Commencing with the 2017â18 award year, the commission shall make a new Chafee grant award to a student only if the student attends either of the following: (1) A qualifying institution that is eligible for participation in the Cal Grant Program pursuant to Section 69432.7. (2) An institution that is not located in California that satisfies the provisions of subparagraphs (C) and (F) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (l) of Section 69432.7. (f) (1) Commencing with the 2018â19 award year, the commission shall make a Chafee grant award to a student only if the student meets both of the following conditions: (A) The student will not be 26 years of age or older by July 1 of the award year. (B) The student attends either of the following institutions: (i) A qualifying institution that is eligible for participation in the Cal Grant Program pursuant to Section 69432.7. (ii) An institution that is not located in California that satisfies the provisions of subparagraphs (C) and (F) of paragraph (3) of subdivision (l) of Section 69432.7. (2) Implementation of this subdivision is contingent upon an appropriation of sufficient funds in the annual Budget Act for this purpose. (g) The California Community Colleges and the California State University shall, and the University of California is requested to, provid
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