Bill Text: NJ A4926 | 2014-2015 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Authorizes institutions of higher education to grant college credit to high school students who complete the Jersey Boys State or Jersey Girls State program.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2016-01-11 - Substituted by S489 [A4926 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2014-A4926-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Authorizes institutions of higher education to grant college credit to high school students who complete the Jersey Boys State or Jersey Girls State program.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning college credit for certain high school students and supplementing chapter 61C of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. The Legislature finds and declares that:
a. An important way to assure the survival of our republic is to imbue American youth with the ideals and objectives of our government, educate them on the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship, and instill in them a sense of the sacrifices made by the nation's veterans to preserve our nation and way of life;
b. The American Legion Jersey Boys State program, founded in 1935 and active in New Jersey since 1946, and the American Legion Auxiliary Jersey Girls State program, founded in 1947, each strive to develop good citizenship by encouraging the youth of New Jersey to take a more active interest in the operation of State and national government and in the privileges and responsibilities of citizenship;
c. The Jersey Boys State program and the Jersey Girls State program provide a college-level curriculum to a select group of high school juniors, or delegates, who complete an intensive, weeklong governmental leadership program in which delegates create, elect, and administer their own government; and
d. Participation in the Jersey Boys State and Jersey Girls State programs should be encouraged so as to promote a greater understanding of the American system of government and a continued civic participation and commitment to governmental leadership and activism by young people in our State.
2. A high school student who participates in the Jersey Boys State or Jersey Girls State program may be eligible to receive, pursuant to section 3 of this act, up to three college credits upon enrollment at a public or independent institution of higher education located in the State for successful completion of the Boys State or Girls State program.
3. a. A public or independent institution of higher education may award, pursuant to regulations established by the Secretary of Higher Education, up to three credits to a regularly admitted student who successfully completed the Jersey Boys State or Jersey Girls State program.
b. The Secretary of Higher Education shall encourage public and independent institutions of higher education to award credit in accordance with the provisions of subsection a. of this section.
4. Nothing in this act shall be construed to require any public or independent institution of higher education to admit a student or to waive its admission standards and application procedures.
5. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill permits public and independent institutions of higher education to grant up to three college credits to high school students who successfully complete the American Legion Jersey Boys State or American Legion Auxiliary Jersey Girls State program. The bill directs the Secretary of Higher Education to encourage public and independent institutions of higher education to award credit for successful completion of the programs.
The American Legion founded the Boys State program in 1935. Jersey Boys State was founded in 1946 and has been based at Rider University since 1969. Jersey Girls State was founded in 1947 and is currently based at Georgian Court College. The program goals of Boys State and Girls State are to: develop leadership and pride in American citizens; educate participants about our system of government; instill in participants a greater understanding of American traditions; and stimulate a desire to maintain our government processes.
