Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CAROL A. MURPHY
District 7 (Burlington)
Assemblywoman SHANIQUE SPEIGHT
District 29 (Essex and Hudson)
SYNOPSIS
Extends eligibility for tuition benefit to dependents of members of United States Armed Forces who died while on active duty.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning tuition assistance for dependents of certain military members and amending N.J.S.18A:62-25 and supplementing chapter 62 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. 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 Armed Forces of the United States or the New Jersey National Guard who [heretofore completed Initial Active Duty Training and was killed in the performance of his duties] died 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;
c. the child or spouse has applied for tuition benefits available through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for which the child or spouse is eligible under the "Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-252 (38 U.S.C. s.3301 et seq.); and
d. available classroom space permits and tuition-paying students constitute the minimum number required for the course.
(cf: P.L.2009, c.208, s.2)
2. (New section) Any
student who is eligible for the tuition benefit provided pursuant to N.J.S.18A:62-25
shall receive a monetary award equal to 10 percent of the cost of tuition at
the public institution of higher education at which the student is enrolled.
This award shall be made available to the student for use on non-tuition
education costs, including but not limited to housing, dining, fees, or
supplies.
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full academic year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
Under current law, the child or surviving spouse of a member of the New Jersey National Guard who died while on active duty may attend regularly-scheduled courses at any public institution of higher education in this State and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free provided that certain conditions are met. This bill extends the tuition waiver benefit to the dependents of members of the Armed Forces of the United States who died while on active duty.
The bill further provides to dependents of a member of the Armed Forces of the United States or the New Jersey National Guard who died while on active duty a monetary award equal to 10 percent of the cost of tuition at the public institution of higher education at which the student is enrolled. This award will be made available to the student for use on non-tuition education costs, including but not limited to housing, dining, fees, or supplies.