(

a) To be eligible to receive a Cal Grant award pursuant to this chapter, a student shall be all of the following:

(1) A citizen of the United States, or an eligible noncitizen, as defined for purposes of financial aid programs under Title IV of the federal Higher Education Act of 1965 (20 U.S.C.

Sec. 1070 et seq., as from time to time amended).

(2) Not incarcerated.

(3) Not in default on any student loan within the meaning of

Section 69507.5. (4) (

A) For purposes of

Article 2 (commencing with

Section 69434),

Article 3 (commencing with

Section 69435), and

Article 4 (commencing with

Section 69436), except as provided in subdivision (

d) of

Section 69436, at the time of high school graduation or its equivalent, be a resident of California. (

B) A student who does not meet the requirements for a high school diploma or its equivalent in the academic year immediately preceding the award year, but who meets the requirements for a high school diploma or its equivalent by December of the academic year immediately following the date of application, satisfies any requirement for obtaining high school graduation or its equivalent for the purposes of this

chapter as of the first day of the academic term immediately following the term in which the requirements for the high school diploma or its equivalent are met. (

C) No student shall receive an award for a term that begins before satisfying any requirement for obtaining high school graduation or its equivalent. (

b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a), a student shall be eligible to receive a Cal Grant award pursuant to this

chapter if the student satisfies the requirements of paragraphs (1) to (3), inclusive, of subdivision (

a) and the student is a dependent natural or adopted child, stepchild, or spouse of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States stationed outside of California on active duty, if the member of the Armed Forces of the United States otherwise maintains California as their state of legal residence.