Bill Text: NJ A5425 | 2026-2027 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Expands Community College Opportunity Grant Program and Tuition Aid Grant Program to provide aid for certain career and technical education programs.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)
Status: (Introduced) 2026-09-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee [A5425 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2026-A5425-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman ALEX SAUICKIE
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
Expands Community College Opportunity Grant Program and Tuition Aid Grant Program to provide aid for certain career and technical education programs.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning State student assistance for career and technical education and amending various parts of the statutory law.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.2021, c.26 (C.18A:71B-111) is amended to read as follows:
1. As used in [this act] P.L.2021, c.26 (C.18A:71B-111 et seq.):
"Adult student" means a postsecondary student who is enrolled in a career and technical education course or program offered by a county vocational school district established pursuant to article 3 of chapter 54 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
"Annual adjusted gross income" means:
a. for a dependent student, the annual adjusted gross income of the student's parent or legal guardian, as reported on the student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid or other financial aid form; and
b. for an independent student, the annual adjusted gross income of the student and, if applicable, the spouse of the student, as reported on the student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid or other financial aid form.
"Approved educational fees" means general education fees, registration fees, facility fees, technology fees, laboratory fees, student service and activity fees, and program and course fees, including fees associated with coursework in nursing, culinary, and other career and technical education programs as determined by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority in consultation with the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education, subject to the limit of funds appropriated or otherwise made available for the program.
"Authority" means the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority established pursuant to N.J.S.18A:71A-3.
"Career and technical education course or program" means a postsecondary career, career-training, technical, or workforce development course or program that prepares a student to earn a license or industry-recognized certification or to take a nationally-recognized exam that is offered by any county college established pursuant to chapter 64A of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes or any county vocational school district established pursuant to article 3 of chapter 54 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. A career and technical education course or program shall include a registered apprenticeship.
"County vocational school district" means any entity established pursuant to article 3 of chapter 54 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
"Out-of-county college" means a county college that is outside of a student's county of residence.
"Out-of-county vocational school district" means a county vocational school district that is outside of a student's county of residence.
"Program" means the Community College Opportunity Grant Program created pursuant to section 2 of [this act] P.L.2021, c.26 (C.18A:71B-112).
"Registered apprenticeship" means apprenticeship in a program providing to each trainee combined classroom and on-the-job training under the direct and close supervision of a highly skilled worker in an occupation recognized as an apprenticeable trade, and registered by the Office of Apprenticeship of the United States Department of Labor and meeting the standards established by that office.
"Three plus one degree program" means a baccalaureate degree program created pursuant to section 1 of P.L.2018, c.144 (C.18A:3B-78).
(cf: P.L.2021, c.26, s.1)
2. Section 2 of P.L.2021, c.26 (C.18A:71B-112) is amended to read as follows:
2. There is hereby created the Community College Opportunity Grant Program. The purpose of the program shall be to provide financial aid grants to eligible county college students and eligible county vocational school district adult students, to cover the costs of tuition and approved educational fees that are not already covered by any other State, federal, and institutional need-based grants or merit scholarships and to provide county colleges with Student Success Incentive funding for outreach and student success initiatives. The financial aid grants distributed to eligible students under the program shall be administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority, while the Student Success Incentive funding distributed to county colleges under the program shall be administered by the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education.
(cf: P.L.2021, c.26, s.2)
3. Section 3 of P.L.2021, c.26 (C.18A:71B-113) is amended to read as follows:
3. a. To be eligible to receive a financial aid grant under the Community College Opportunity Grant Program, a student shall:
(1) (a) if enrolled in a county college, be a legal resident of the State in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.18A:71B-2 or be eligible for student financial aid pursuant to P.L.2018, c.12 (C.18A:71B-2.1); or
(b) if enrolled in a county vocational school district, be a legal resident of the State in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.18A:71B-2 or P.L.2018, c.12 (C.18A:71B-2.1), except for any requirement under those provisions of law to be enrolled in an eligible institution of higher education;
(2) be enrolled in at least six credits at a county college established pursuant to chapter 64A of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, be enrolled in a career and technical education course or program of at least four months in duration at a county college, or be an adult student enrolled in a postsecondary career and technical education course or program of at least four months in duration at a county vocational school district;
(3) (a) be enrolled at the county college or county vocational school district that serves the student's county of residence; or
(b) be enrolled at an out-of-county college or out-of-county vocational school district, in which case the student, if otherwise eligible, shall receive a grant under the program to cover the remaining costs of tuition and approved educational fees, charged at the in-district rate for the county college at which the student is enrolled or the in-county rate of the county vocational school district at which the student is enrolled, provided that the amount of a grant provided to a student under this subparagraph does not exceed the amount of tuition and approved educational fees actually charged to the student;
(4) not have an annual adjusted gross income that is negative;
(5) have an annual adjusted gross income between $0 and $65,000, except that the authority, in consultation with the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education [and], the New Jersey Council of County Colleges, and the New Jersey Council of County Vocational-Technical Schools, may annually establish maximum annual adjusted gross income eligibility limits of no less than $65,000;
(6) have 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 authority pursuant to subsection b. of section 1 of P.L.2018, c.12 (C.18A:71B-2.1);
(7) not owe a refund on a grant or scholarship previously received from a State or federal program through any institution or be 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
(8) be in good academic standing and meet the minimum standards for academic performance and satisfactory academic progress as defined by the county college or county vocational school district which the student is attending.
A county college or county vocational school district shall not impose additional eligibility requirements for the program, other than the requirements set forth in this subsection.
b. A grant under the program may be renewed for a student who:
(1) annually completes and submits 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);
(2) meets the standards for academic performance and satisfactory academic progress, as defined by the county college which the student is attending, to determine eligibility for federal student aid programs under Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965 or, in the semester immediately prior to receiving an award, attains a minimum level of academic success as determined by the authority or meets the standards for academic performance and satisfactory academic progress as defined by the county vocational school district which the student is attending; and
(3) maintains all applicable eligibility requirements established pursuant to subsection a. of this section.
c. (1) A student enrolled in a county college shall be eligible for a grant under the program for up to five semesters, unless the student is enrolled in a program regularly requiring at least six semesters for completion, in which case the authority shall permit up to six semesters of eligibility.
(2) A student enrolled in a three plus one degree program at a county college shall be eligible for a grant under the program for up to six semesters.
(3) Semesters for which a student is enrolled in at least six credits but less than 12 credits at a county college shall be counted as one-half of a full-time semester.
(4) An adult student enrolled in a career and technical education program at a county vocational school shall be eligible for a grant under the program for coursework completed over a two-year time period.
d. A student may be eligible for a grant under the program during a fall or spring semester in an academic year.
e. If a student, the student's family, [or] a county college, or a county vocational school district deems that the authority made an unfair determination of eligibility, an appeal may be filed with the authority within 60 days of initial notification of eligibility or ineligibility.
f. The county college or county vocational school district which a student attends shall notify the student of the student's eligibility for the program and the amount of the grant.
g. A student may not be eligible for a grant under the program for coursework completed at both a county vocational school district and a county college.
(cf: P.L.2021, c.26, s.3)
4. Section 4 of P.L.2021, c.26 (C.18A:71B-114) is amended to read as follows:
4. a. A grant distributed to an eligible student under the Community College Opportunity Grant Program shall cover the remaining cost of tuition and approved educational fees, which is not covered by State, federal, or any other need-based grant or merit scholarship, for up to 18 credits in any semester , or the equivalent number of hours or credits in a career and technical education course or program as determined by the authority. The full amount of State, federal, and institutional need-based grant or merit scholarships received by an eligible student shall be applied to the amount of tuition and approved educational fees charged to an eligible student. The remaining balance of tuition and approved educational fees shall be covered by a grant under the program.
b. A full award under the program to a student at a county college or an adult student enrolled in a career and technical education program at a county vocational school district shall be equal to the student's full cost of approved tuition and approved educational fees, subject to the prior application of all other State, federal, and institutional need-based grants and merit scholarships against those costs, for up to 18 credits in any semester, for an eligible student for a full-time semester in an associate's degree, certificate, [or] three plus one degree program, or for up to the approved number of hours or credits in a career and technical education course or program, to be determined by the authority. For an eligible student enrolled in at least six credits but less than 12 credits in an associate's degree, certificate, [or] three plus one degree program, or enrolled in the approved range of hours or credits in a postsecondary career and technical education course or program, as determined by the authority, a grant under the program shall be pro-rated from the full-time approved tuition and approved educational fees based on the number of hours or credits for which that student is enrolled.
c. The authority shall, for each county college and county vocational school district, annually establish a maximum individual grant amount awarded under the program. The maximum individual grant amount for each county college and county vocational school district shall not increase by more than three percent over the prior year.
(cf: P.L.2021, c.26, s.4)
5. N.J.S.18A:71B-18 is amended to read as follows:
18A:71B-18. Grants Created; Use.
There are hereby created State
tuition aid grants which shall be maintained by the State, awarded and
administered pursuant to this act, and used by the holders thereof for
undergraduate study in eligible institutions or for career and technical
education at a county
college or county vocational school district.
(cf: N.J.S.18A:71B-18)
6. Section 1 of P.L.2016, c.47 (C.18A:71B-19.1) is amended to read as follows:
1. An institution of higher education [and] , a proprietary degree-granting institution, and a county vocational school district shall annually provide the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority with detailed information on the graduation rates of State tuition aid grant recipients. In the case of a county college, the college shall also provide the authority with the transfer rates of the State tuition aid grant recipients. In the case of a career and technical education course or program that is not degree-granting, the institution or school district shall provide the authority with a quantitative indicator of program success, as specified by the authority. An institution shall provide the information in such form as determined by the authority.
The authority shall post the information provided by each institution and district for public inspection on its website.
(cf: P.L.2016, c.47, s.1)
7. N.J.S.18A:71B-20 is amended to read as follows:
18A:71B-20. a. (1) A State tuition aid grant shall be awarded annually to each eligible, qualified full-time undergraduate student enrolled in a curriculum leading to a degree or certificate in an eligible institution, or in an institution of higher education in another state, provided that state permits its residents to utilize its state student financial assistance grants in New Jersey institutions of higher education through reciprocity agreements approved by the authority. In no event shall a State tuition aid grant be utilized at an out-of-State institution which is not licensed by that state and accredited by a regional accrediting association recognized by a national accrediting organization.
(2) A State tuition aid grant shall be awarded annually to each eligible qualified postsecondary student enrolled in a career and technical education program for up to the number of hours or credits in a career and technical education course or program determined to be equivalent to full-time enrollment by the authority.
b. To each New Jersey resident enrolled as a full-time student, except as otherwise provided in subsection d. of this section, and meeting the other requirements for eligibility under this chapter, the State shall grant an amount as provided in N.J.S.18A:71B-21. A student shall not be eligible for a grant unless the application is in a form satisfactory to the authority. A student shall not be eligible for grants for more than four and one-half academic years, unless the recipient is enrolled in an undergraduate program regularly requiring five academic years for completion, in which case the authority shall permit five and one-half years of eligibility. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, a student receiving aid under the provisions of P.L.1968, c.142 (C.18A:71-28 et seq.) shall be entitled to a sixth year of eligibility. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions, a county college student who transfers to a four-year institution, or any student who is required to pursue 18 or more credit hours in a remedial or developmental curriculum, as defined by regulations adopted by the authority, is entitled to an additional half year of eligibility. A student enrolled in a career and technical education course or program at a county college shall be eligible for a grant under the program for a maximum of six semesters. A student enrolled in a career and technical education course or program at a county vocational school shall be eligible for a grant under the program for coursework completed over a two-year time period. For the purpose of this article, a remedial curriculum shall include only noncredit courses in which a student is directed to enroll by the institution. Eligibility for tuition aid grants may be extended to part-time students through regulations developed by the authority if funds are separately appropriated for this purpose. A student shall not be eligible for grants unless the student maintains such minimum standards of academic performance as are required by the institution of enrollment. A student who is enrolled in a course leading to a degree in theology or divinity shall not be eligible for a tuition aid grant.
c. A person shall not be awarded a State tuition aid grant unless that person:
(1) satisfies the residency and other requirements provided in article 1 of this part;
(2) has applied for State tuition aid and has been determined by the authority to be eligible for the tuition aid;
(3) has demonstrated financial need for the tuition aid as determined by and in accordance with standards to be established by the authority; and
(4) maintains satisfactory academic progress in accordance with standards established by the authority.
d. Eligibility criteria for summer tuition aid grants awarded pursuant to section 2 of P.L.2023, c.34 (C.18A:71B-20a) shall conform to the requirements of this section and shall include the following additional eligibility criteria:
(1) the student is enrolled in six or more credit hours in the summer term;
(2) the courses for which the summer tuition aid grant is to be applied are in the same undergraduate program at the same institution in which the student was enrolled during the student's most recent semester of enrollment in the preceding academic year; [and]
(3) the courses for which the summer tuition aid grant is to be applied may be credited toward the student's graduation or academic major requirements; and
(4) the student is not enrolled in a career and technical education course or program.
e. As used in this section:
"career and technical education course or program" means a postsecondary career, career-training, technical, or workforce development course or program that prepares a student to earn a license or industry-recognized certification or to take a nationally-recognized exam that is offered by any county college established pursuant to chapter 64A of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes or any county vocational school district established pursuant to article 3 of chapter 54 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. A career and technical education course or program shall require students to attend, at minimum, 150 hours of classroom instruction. A career and technical education course or program shall include a registered apprenticeship.
"Registered apprenticeship" means apprenticeship in a program providing to each trainee combined classroom and on-the-job training under the direct and close supervision of a highly skilled worker in an occupation recognized as an apprenticeable trade, and registered by the Office of Apprenticeship of the United States Department of Labor and meeting the standards established by that office.
(cf: P.L.2023, c.283, s.1)
8. N.J.S.18A:71B-21 is amended to read as follows:
18A:71B-21. Amount of Grant; Reduction of Award.
a. The amount of a tuition aid grant awarded under this article to any student attending an eligible institution shall be established by the authority, but shall not exceed the maximum amount of tuition normally charged at a public institution of higher education for students attending that institution or 50% of the average tuition normally charged at the independent institutions of higher education for students attending those institutions. The amount of a State tuition aid grant awarded under this act to any student attending an institution of higher education in any state other than New Jersey pursuant to this section shall not exceed $500 in an academic year. The amount of grant to be paid for each semester or its equivalent shall be based on the financial need for the grant, as determined by standards and procedures established by the authority, and subject to the amount of appropriations available therefor.
b. Appropriations for each program category of tuition aid grants shall be separately made by line item.
c. State tuition aid grants shall be awarded by the authority to all eligible applicants without any limitation on the number to be awarded in any year other than the amount of appropriations available therefor. In the event that the amount appropriated is insufficient for full awards to all eligible applicants, the authority, in consultation with the Commission on Higher Education, shall reduce awards equitably among eligible students according to such procedures and guidelines as it shall establish. Any revisions of procedures and guidelines in effect as of the effective date of this act shall be submitted on or before March 1 of the prebudget year by the executive director of the authority to the Joint Budget Oversight Committee of the Legislature, or its successor, together with supporting information. The revised criteria and guidelines may be approved or disapproved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor, at any time; provided that if at the end of a 60-calendar day period after the date on which the revisions are transmitted to the committee, the committee has taken no action, the proposed revised criteria and guidelines shall be deemed to be approved by the committee.
d. The amount of a tuition aid grant awarded under this article to any student attending a career and technical education course or program shall be established by the authority, but shall not exceed the maximum amount of tuition normally charged at a county college or a county vocational school district for students attending that institution.
e. Tuition aid grants awarded under this article to a student enrolled in a degree-granting program at an eligible institution shall not be reduced to provide tuition aid grants to students attending a career and technical education course or program.
(cf: N.J.S.18A:71B-21)
9. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to grants awarded in the first full academic year next following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
This bill expands eligibility for the Community College Opportunity Grant (CCOG) Program and the Tuition Aid Grant (TAG) Program to include career and technical education programs offered at county colleges and county vocational schools.
The bill expands the CCOG Program to students enrolled in a career and technical education course or program at a county college for a maximum of six semesters of eligibility. The bill also expands the Program to adult students enrolled in a career and technical education course or program longer than four months in duration at a county vocational school for a maximum of two years of eligibility. Programs and courses permitted under the bill are required to prepare a student to earn a license or industry-recognized certification or to take a nationally-recognized exam. Under the bill, grants provided by the program cover up to the recognized equivalent of 18 academic credits in a postsecondary career and technical education course or program as determined by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
The bill also expands the TAG program to postsecondary students enrolled in a career and technical education course or program at a county college or county vocational school district enrolled on a full-time basis, as determined by the authority. Under the bill, a postsecondary student enrolled in a career and technical education course or program is eligible for a grant for up to six semesters at a county college or a maximum of two years at a county vocational school district. Programs and courses permitted under the bill are required to prepare a student to earn a license or industry-recognized certification or to take a nationally-recognized exam. Under the bill, grants provided by the program cover up to the maximum amount of tuition normally charged at a county college or a county vocational school district for students attending that institution.
