Bill Text: NJ S591 | 2010-2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Requires member of New Jersey National Guard to apply for all tuition benefits available through U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in order to qualify for tuition-free enrollment at a public institution of higher education.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Failed) 2010-06-28 - Withdrawn from Consideration [S591 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2010-S591-Introduced.html
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
214th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2010 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Senator JAMES BEACH
District 6 (Camden)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Ruiz
SYNOPSIS
Requires member of New Jersey National Guard to apply for all tuition benefits available through U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs in order to qualify for tuition-free enrollment at a public institution of higher education.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
An Act concerning tuition assistance for members of the New Jersey National Guard and amending N.J.S.18A:62-24 and N.J.S.18A:62-25.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. N.J.S.18A:62-24 is amended to read as follows:
18A:62-24. a. Any member of the New Jersey National Guard shall be permitted to attend regularly-scheduled courses at any public institution of higher education in this State enumerated in N.J.S.18A:62-1 and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free provided that:
(1) the member has completed Initial Active Duty Training and, except as otherwise provided pursuant to subsection c. of this section, is in good standing as an active member of the New Jersey National Guard;
(2) the member has been accepted to pursue a course of undergraduate study and is enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing at that institution or a course of graduate study and is enrolled as a graduate student in good standing at that institution; [and]
(3) the member has applied for all available State student grants and scholarships and all available federal student grants and scholarships for which the member is eligible; and
(4) the member has applied for all tuition benefits available through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for which the member is eligible.
b. The State shall reimburse a public institution of higher education for the tuition cost of each National Guard member who enrolls in the institution pursuant to the provisions of this section to the extent that the tuition cost is not paid through tuition benefits available to the member through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
c. Any member of the New
Jersey National Guard whose enrollment in a public institution of higher
education on a tuition-free basis pursuant to subsection a. of this section is
interrupted by a deployment to active duty shall be permitted to receive the
free tuition benefit after discharge from service under conditions other than
dishonorable. In the event of a non-medical discharge or a medical discharge
that is not caused by an illness or injury related to the performance of duties
for the National Guard, eligibility for the free tuition benefit shall begin
from the date of discharge and shall continue for one semester or a period of
time equal to the
length of the deployment, whichever is longer. In the event of medical
discharge or medical retirement as a result of illness or injury incurred in
the combat theater, as a result of terrorist action, or in the response to a
natural disaster, eligibility for the free tuition
benefit shall begin from the date of discharge or retirement and shall continue until completion of the degree program in which enrolled or for five years, whichever occurs first.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.11, s.1)
2. N.J.S.18A:62-25 is amended to read as follows:
18A:62-25. Any child or surviving spouse of a member of the New Jersey National Guard who heretofore completed Initial Active Duty Training and was killed in the performance of his duties while on active duty with the New Jersey National Guard, or who hereafter completes Initial Active Duty Training and is killed in the performance of his duties while a member of the New Jersey National Guard, shall be permitted to attend regularly-scheduled courses at any public institution of higher education in this State enumerated in N.J.S.18A:62-1 and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free provided that:
a. the child or spouse has been accepted to pursue a course of undergraduate study and is enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing at that institution or a course of graduate study and is enrolled as a graduate student in good standing at that institution;
b. the child or spouse has applied for all available State student grants and scholarships and all available federal student grants and scholarships for which the child or spouse is eligible; [and]
c. the child or spouse has applied for all tuition benefits available through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for which the child or spouse is eligible; and
d. available classroom space permits and tuition-paying students constitute the minimum number required for the course.
(cf: P.L.2007, c.11, s.2)
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall be first applicable to the 2010-2011 academic year.
STATEMENT
This bill provides that in order to qualify for tuition-free enrollment at a public institution of higher education, a member of the New Jersey National Guard must apply for all tuition benefits available through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for which the member is eligible. The bill imposes a similar requirement on the child or surviving spouse of a member of the New Jersey National Guard who is eligible under current law for a tuition waiver at a public institution if available space permits and tuition-paying students constitute the minimum number required for the course. The bill's provisions would first apply to the 2010-2011 academic year.
