Bill Text: NJ A4152 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to pay for remaining tuition costs related to certain remedial or developmental courses.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 6-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-06-22 - Reported out of Assembly Committee, 2nd Reading [A4152 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A4152-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman REGINALD W. ATKINS
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman VERLINA REYNOLDS-JACKSON
District 15 (Hunterdon and Mercer)
Assemblywoman BRITNEE N. TIMBERLAKE
District 34 (Essex and Passaic)
Assemblyman ROY FREIMAN
District 16 (Hunterdon, Mercer, Middlesex and Somerset)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblymen Sampson, Spearman and Assemblywoman Sumter
SYNOPSIS
Establishes program in Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to pay for remaining tuition costs related to certain remedial or developmental courses.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning State financial aid and supplementing chapter 71B of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. As used in this section:
"Eligible institution of higher education" means an eligible institution as defined pursuant to N.J.S.18A:71B-1.
"Remedial or developmental course" means a non-credit course or a course for which credits earned are not applicable to minimum credit requirements leading to a degree or certificate.
"Urban school district" means a school district that is situated within an urban area as classified by the United States Bureau of the Census.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority shall establish a financial aid program in which students, who graduate high school from urban school districts in the State and are required to take remedial or developmental courses at an eligible institution of higher education in the State, are eligible for financial aid. The financial aid provided pursuant to this section shall provide an eligible student with an award in an amount necessary to pay the remaining tuition costs associated with the student's enrollment in a remedial or developmental course, in the event that the student has outstanding tuition costs related to the remedial or developmental course after the prior application of all other State, federal, and institutional grants and scholarships for which the student is eligible and provided that the remedial or developmental course is necessary as part of the completion of the academic program of study in which the student is enrolled.
c. A student shall be eligible for State financial aid pursuant to this section if the student:
(1) is a resident of the State in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.18A:71B-2 or is otherwise eligible for State financial aid pursuant to P.L.2018, c.12 (C.18A:71B-2.1);
(2) graduated high school from a public high school located in an urban school district;
(3) is enrolled in a remedial or developmental course that is necessary as part of the completion of the academic program of study in which the student is enrolled;
(4) is enrolled in at least six credits in the semester in which the student is seeking aid at an eligible institution of higher education;
(5) applied for all other available forms of State, federal, and institutional need-based grants and merit scholarships and, in accordance with annually established deadline dates, has completed and submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, other financial aid form, or, as applicable, a State financial aid form as required by the authority pursuant to subsection b. of section 1 of P.L.2018, c.12 (C.18A:71B-2.1);
(6) does not owe a refund on a grant or scholarship previously received from a State or federal program through any institution or is not in default on any loan made under any State or federal student loan program at any institution, unless the student makes arrangements with the authority to repay the debt; and
(7) is in good academic standing and meets the minimum standards for academic performance and satisfactory academic progress as defined by the eligible institution of higher education which the student is attending.
d. A student shall be eligible for a financial aid award under this section for a maximum of 30 credits.
e. A student may be eligible for a financial aid award pursuant to this section during a fall or spring semester in an academic year.
2. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply in the first full academic year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes a financial aid program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). The program would cover the remaining tuition costs associated with the student's enrollment in a remedial or developmental course, in the event that the student has outstanding tuition costs related to the remedial or developmental course after the prior application of all other grants and scholarships for which the student is eligible. Under the bill, a student would be eligible for aid if the remedial or developmental course in which the student is enrolled is necessary as part of the completion of the academic program of study in which the student is enrolled.
A student would be eligible for a financial aid award under the program if the student:
· is a resident of the State or is otherwise eligible for State financial aid pursuant to current State law permitting certain students without lawful immigration status to receive State financial aid;
· graduated high school from a public high school located in an eligible urban school district;
· is enrolled in a remedial or developmental course that is necessary as part of the completion of the academic program of study in which the student is enrolled;
· is enrolled in at least six credits in the semester in which the student is seeking aid at an eligible institution;
· applied for all other available forms of State, federal, and institutional need-based grants and merit scholarships and, in accordance with annually established deadline dates, have completed and submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, other financial aid form, or, as applicable, a State financial aid form as required by the HESAA pursuant to the law permitting certain students without lawful immigration status to receive State financial aid;
· does not owe a refund on a grant or scholarship previously received from a State or federal program through any institution or is not in default on any loan made under any State or federal student loan program at any institution, unless the student makes arrangements with the HESAA to repay the debt; and
· is in good academic standing and meet the minimum standards for academic performance and satisfactory academic progress as defined by the eligible institution of higher education which the student is attending.
Under the bill, a student would be eligible for a financial aid award for a maximum of 30 credits and would only be eligible for a financial aid award during a fall or spring semester in an academic year.
