Assemblymember Vows to Make Education Funding a Priority as State Budget Hearings Begin This Week
Sacramento – Assemblymember Philip Y. Ting (D – San Francisco) announced today that he has introduced legislation, Assembly Bill 1364 (AB 1364), to increase financial aid for college students who qualify for state assistance.
The legislation will give low-income students a better chance of obtaining a college degree by increasing the amount of aid they receive under Cal Grant B stipends. The stipend pays for expenses including textbooks, class supplies and transportation.
“The Cal Grant B stipend is crucial financial aid that can make the difference between a student staying in school, or dropping out because they can’t afford their expenses. It is simply not right that the grant has been reduced in recent years. Now more than ever before, this assistance is critically important to students’ success,” Ting said.
In 2012, Cal Grant B stipends were cut by 5% due to the state budget deficit. AB 1364 would restore the cut and tie the stipend to the Consumer Price Index so that it will increase commensurate with the cost-of-living in future years.
“We thank Assemblymember Phil Ting for his leadership in expanding the opportunity for all students to attend college,” stated Amanda Buchanan, Legislative Director for the University of California Student Association.
Ting sits on the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance, which held its first hearing on the proposed 2013-14 state budget’s education components on Tuesday, March 5, 2013.