S1871

An Act establishing a “Commission on College Tuition.”

Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:

1. There is established a commission to be known as the "Commission on College Tuition." The commission shall consist of eleven members as follows: the Secretary of Higher Education, ex officio, or a designee; two members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate, which members shall not be of the same political party; two members of the General Assembly to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, which members shall not be of the same political party; and six public members to be appointed by the Governor representing the higher education community, including representatives of public four-year institutions of higher education, independent institutions of higher education, the county colleges, and proprietary institutions authorized to offer licensed degree programs.

2. All appointments to the commission shall be made within 30 days of the effective date of this act. Vacancies in the membership of the commission shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointments were made. Members of the commission shall serve without compensation but shall be entitled to their actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties pursuant to this act.

3. a. The commission shall organize within 30 days after the appointment of its members and shall select a chairperson and a vice-chairperson from among its members and a secretary who need not be a member of the commission.

b. Staff and related support services shall be provided to the commission by the office of the Secretary of Higher Education. The commission shall also be entitled to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of the employees of any State, county, or municipal department, board, bureau, commission or agency as it may require and as may be available to it for its purposes.

4. It shall be the duty of the commission to study and make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature regarding the rising costs of higher education in New Jersey. The commission shall identify and examine: the factors which contribute to tuition levels in each sector of higher education in the State; how tuition levels have changed over the last 10 years in each sector; and why tuition levels vary across the different sectors of higher education.

5. The commission may meet and hold hearings at the place or places it designates during the sessions or recesses of the Legislature. The commission shall issue a final report to the Governor, and to the Legislature pursuant to section 2 of P.L.1991, c.164 (C.52:14-19.1), no later than six months following its organizational meeting.

6. This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

This bill establishes a commission to be known as the "Commission on College Tuition." The commission will consist of 11 members selected as follows: the Secretary of Higher Education, ex officio, or a designee; two members of the Senate to be appointed by the President of the Senate, which members may not be of the same political party; two members of the General Assembly to be appointed by the Speaker of the General Assembly, which members may not be of the same political party; and six public members to be appointed by the Governor representing the higher education community, including representatives of public four-year institutions of higher education, independent institutions of higher education, the county colleges, and proprietary institutions authorized to offer licensed degree programs.

It will be the duty of the commission to study and make recommendations to the Governor and the Legislature on the rising costs of higher education in New Jersey. The commission will identify and examine: the factors which contribute to tuition levels in each sector of higher education in the State; how tuition levels have changed over the last 10 years in each sector; and why tuition levels vary across the different sectors of higher education.

The commission is required to issue a final report to the Governor and the Legislature no later than six months following its organizational meeting.