Bill Text: NJ A5623 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes television and broadcasting scholarship and grant programs; appropriates $300,000.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 3-0)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2023-06-20 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee [A5623 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A5623-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman REGINALD W. ATKINS
District 20 (Union)
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex)
Assemblywoman ANGELA V. MCKNIGHT
District 31 (Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes television and broadcasting scholarship and grant programs; appropriates $300,000.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act establishing television production and broadcasting scholarship and grant programs and making an appropriation.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority shall create a two-year television production and broadcasting scholarship program for men and women of color pursuing an undergraduate education in television production or broadcasting. The purpose of the program shall be to award scholarships to those men and women of color seeking undergraduate education in the industries of television production or broadcasting.
b. To qualify for the scholarship program an individual shall demonstrate to the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority that the individual:
(1) is a legal resident of the State;
(2) is over the age of 18;
(3) is a student enrolled in a television production or broadcasting program of at least four years in length at a four-year institution of higher education within the State, including any student who starts in a two year television production or broadcasting program at a county college or vocational school then transfers to another four-year institution of higher education within the State;
(4) meets the standards for academic performance and satisfactory academic progress as defined by the four-year institution of higher education which the individual is attending; and
(5) meets any other criteria that the authority deems appropriate.
c. Interested individuals that meet the eligibility requirements outlined in this section shall submit an application to the authority in a form and manner determined by the authority.
d. (1) The authority shall select 10 students to be provided scholarships in the amount of $28,000 each, to be split into four equal disbursements of $7,000 each over the course of four years of undergraduate education for the purpose of providing financial support by covering any outstanding tuition costs or educational fees as well as assisting the selected students in their pursuit of education and training in television production or broadcasting.
(2) A student who has previously completed two years of instruction at a county college and is awarded the scholarship while enrolled in a four-year institution of higher education shall be provided a scholarship in the amount of $14,000, to be split into two equal disbursements of $7,000 each over the course of two years of enrollment at a four-year institution of higher education.
e. Each scholarship awarded under this section shall be contingent upon the program participant remaining in good standing at the four-year institution of higher education.
f. The authority shall submit a report to the Governor, and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), one year after the establishment of the scholarship program, and every year thereafter until the graduation of all program participants. The report shall include, but need not be limited to, information on the number of scholarship applicants and recipients and a recommendation on the establishment of a permanent source of funding for such scholarships.
2. a. The Secretary of Higher Education shall establish a two-year television production and broadcasting grant program. The program shall provide grants to institutions of higher education to:
(1) provide training for undergraduate students seeking a career in television production or broadcasting, including hands-on experience in, and real-world exposure to, these fields;
(2) create a, or help fund an existing, mentorship program that pairs undergraduate students with experienced professionals in the fields of television production or broadcasting to provide guidance and support to students as they navigate their career paths; or
(3) create industry partnerships with television production or broadcasting companies to create opportunities for job shadowing, guest speakers, and networking events.
b. A four-year institution of higher education that seeks assistance under the program shall submit an application to the secretary in a form and manner determined by the secretary.
c. The secretary shall select two institutions of higher education to participate in the grant program and shall award a grant in the amount of $10,000 to each grant recipient for the purposes outlined in this section.
d. The secretary shall submit a report to the Governor, and the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), one year after the establishment of the grant program, and every year thereafter until the use of all grant monies has concluded. The report shall include, but need not be limited to, information on the number of grant applicants and recipients and a recommendation on the establishment of a permanent source of funding for such grant program.
3. a. Notwithstanding any provision of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) or any other law to the contrary, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority may adopt, immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law and no later than the 90th day after the effective date of this act, such rules and regulations as the authority deems necessary to implement the provisions of section 1 of this act, which regulations shall be effective for a period not to exceed 12 months. The regulations shall, at a minimum, set forth the requirements for application submissions and the criteria for application selections. The regulations shall thereafter be amended, adopted, or readopted by the authority in accordance with the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
b. Notwithstanding any provision of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.) or any other law to the contrary, the Secretary of Higher Education may adopt, immediately upon filing with the Office of Administrative Law and no later than the 90th day after the effective date of this act, such rules and regulations as the secretary deems necessary to implement the provisions of section 2 of this act, which regulations shall be effective for a period not to exceed 12 months. The regulations shall, at a minimum, set forth the requirements for application submissions and the criteria for application selections. The regulations shall thereafter be amended, adopted, or readopted by the secretary in accordance with the provisions of the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.).
4. a. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority the sum of $280,000 to provide the scholarships authorized under section 1 of this act.
b. There is appropriated from the General Fund to the Secretary of Higher Education the sum of $20,000 to provide the grants authorized under section 2 of this act.
5. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill establishes television production and broadcasting scholarship and grant programs.
The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority is required to create a scholarship program to provide 10 scholarships to men and women of color pursuing an undergraduate education in television production or broadcasting. Each scholarship is to be awarded in the amount of $28,000, to be split into four equal disbursements of $7,000 over four years, and is to cover any outstanding tuition costs or educational fees and assist selected students in their pursuit of education and training in television production or broadcasting.
However, a student who has previously completed two years of instruction at a county college and is awarded the scholarship while enrolled at a four-year institution of higher education, is to be provided a scholarship in the amount of $14,000, to be split into two equal disbursements of $7,000 each over the course of two years of enrollment at a four-year institution of higher education.
An undergraduate student interested in the scholarship is required to submit an application to the authority which is to include proof that the student: (1) is a legal resident of the State; (2) is over the age of 18; (3) is a student enrolled in a television production or broadcasting program of at least four years in length at a four-year institution of higher education within the State, including any student who starts in a two year television production or broadcasting program at a county college or vocational school then transfers to another four-year institution of higher education within the State; (4) meets the standards for academic performance and satisfactory academic progress as defined by the four-year institution of higher education which the individual is attending; and (5) meets any other criteria that the authority deems appropriate.
Under the bill, the Secretary of Higher Education is required to establish a television production and broadcasting grant program to provide two institutions of higher education grants in the amount of $10,000 to: (1) provide training for undergraduate students seeking a career in television production or broadcasting; (2) create a, or help fund an existing, mentorship program that pairs undergraduate students with experienced professionals; or (3) create industry partnerships with television production or broadcasting companies.
The authority and secretary are required to submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature with information on the number of grant and scholarship applicants and recipients and a recommendation on the establishment of a permanent source of funding for the scholarship and grant programs.
Finally, the bill makes an appropriation of $280,000 from the General Fund to the authority and an appropriation of $20,000 from the General Fund to the secretary.
