(a) Notwithstanding any other law, and except as provided for in subdivision (b), the Trustees of the California State University and the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges shall, and the Regents of the University of California are requested to, establish procedures and forms that enable persons who are exempt from paying nonresident tuition under Section 68130.5, or who meet equivalent requirements adopted by the regents, to apply for, and participate in, all student aid programs administered by these segments to the full extent permitted by federal law. The Legislature finds and declares that this section is a state law within the meaning of Section 1621(d) of Title 8 of the United States Code.
(b) The number of financial aid awards received by California resident students from financial aid programs administered by the segments shall not be diminished as a result of the application of subdivision (a). The University of California is requested to comply with this subdivision.
(c) This section shall become operative on January 1, 2013.