[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 700

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

218th LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2018 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Senator  M. TERESA RUIZ

District 29 (Essex)

Senator  SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM

District 31 (Hudson)

SYNOPSIS

     “Higher Education Citizenship Equality Act;” defines domicile for dependent students for the purpose of eligibility for State student loans, grants, and scholarships, and resident tuition rate.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     As reported by the Senate Higher Education Committee on February 8, 2018, with amendments.

An Act concerning higher education and supplementing chapter 62 and chapter 71B of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.

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

     1.    This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Higher Education Citizenship Equality Act.”

     2.    a.  A dependent student shall be considered domiciled in this State for the purposes of determining eligibility for a State student loan, grant, or scholarship if the student meets the following criteria:

     (1)   the student is a United States citizen;

     (2)   the student has resided in the State for a period of not less than 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the academic period for which State student assistance is being requested; and

     (3)   the student’s parent or guardian provides the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority with documentation that the parent or guardian has filed a New Jersey and federal income tax return, or with evidence of withholding of income tax, for the most recent tax year.  b.  A dependent student may not establish eligibility for a State student loan, grant, or scholarship pursuant to subsection a. of this section if the student’s parent has not lived in this State for a period of at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the initial academic period for which State student assistance is being requested.

     c.     A dependent student shall not be denied eligibility for a State student loan, grant, or scholarship solely on the basis that the student’s parent or guardian cannot establish domicile.

     d.    Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the eligibility for a State student loan, grant, or scholarship of any student who does not meet the requirements of this section but is otherwise eligible for State student assistance in accordance with law or regulation.

     3.    a.  A dependent student shall be considered domiciled in this State for the purposes of determining eligibility for the resident undergraduate tuition rate at a public institution of higher education if the student meets the following criteria:

     (1)   the student is a United States citizen; and

     (2)   the student has resided in the State for a period of not less than 12 consecutive months before first enrolling in a public institution of higher education and, in the case of a county college student, resides in the county sponsoring the college before first enrolling at the college.

     b.    A dependent student may not establish eligibility for the  resident undergraduate tuition rate pursuant to subsection a. of this section if the student’s parent has not lived in this State for a period of at least 12 consecutive months immediately prior to the student’s initial enrollment in a public institution of higher education.

     c.     Nothing in this section shall be construed to affect the eligibility for the resident undergraduate tuition rate of any student who does not meet the requirements of this section but is otherwise eligible for the resident undergraduate tuition rate at a public institution of higher education in accordance with law or regulation.

     4.    This act shall take effect immediately and shall first be applicable to the determination of State student assistance ¹and eligibility for the resident undergraduate tuition rate¹ for the ¹[2017-2018] 2018-2019¹ academic year.