ASSEMBLY, No. 3062

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman CHRIS TULLY

District 38 (Bergen)

Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER

District 22 (Somerset and Union)

Assemblywoman HEATHER SIMMONS

District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblymen Stanley and Karabinchak

SYNOPSIS

     Codifies Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program at Eagleton Institute of Politics; makes appropriation.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

     Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel.

An Act codifying the Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program, supplementing Title 52 of the Revised Statutes, and making an appropriation. 

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

      1.   a.  There is established the Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, the State University.  Scientists, engineers, and health care professionals with a PhD or equivalent doctoral professional degree in natural sciences, engineering, or healthcare shall be selected to participate in the program as fellows. 

      b.   The State shall appropriate funds in each fiscal year to the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, the State University to finance the stipends and benefits provided to a minimum of four fellows pursuant to subsection c. of this section, and for the cost of administering the Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program.

      c.   A minimum of four fellows shall be selected each year and shall be assigned to work with the New Jersey Legislature and the Executive Branch.  The fellows shall be referred to as the John Weingart Science Fellows. 

      At least two of the fellows shall be assigned to work with the Legislature, and at least two of the fellows shall be assigned to work in the Executive Branch.  Each fellow assigned to work with the Legislature shall be placed in either the Office of Legislative Services, the Senate Majority Office, the Senate Minority Office, the General Assembly Majority Office, or the General Assembly Minority Office.  Of the fellows assigned to work in the Executive Branch, placement shall be determined by the Director of the Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program, appointed pursuant to subsection d. of this section, in consultation with interested State offices. 

      Each fellow shall receive a stipend during the period of the fellowship, as well as health, dental, and vision benefits for the term of their fellowship.  Each fellow shall participate for a period of one year on a full time basis.

      d.   The Director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, the State University shall appoint the Director of the Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program, who shall administer the program and recruit and select the fellows.

      2.   a.  Notwithstanding any other funds allocated, there is appropriated from the State General Fund to the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, the State University for the Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program the sum of $360,000 for the stipends and the administrative costs of the program, implementing the provisions of P.L.   , c.   (C.   ) (pending before the Legislature as this bill).

     b.    Commencing in State fiscal year 2025, there shall be annually appropriated from the General Fund to the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, the State University for the Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program, a minimum of $520,000 to support the program.

     3.    This act shall take effect immediately.

STATEMENT

     This bill codifies the Eagleton Science and Politics Fellowship Program at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers, the State University.  The program will be funded by the State, and the fellows will be referred to as the John Weingart Science Fellows.  John Weingart is a former Associate Director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics and a founder of the fellowship program. 

     A minimum of four fellows who are scientists, engineers, and health care professionals with a PhD or equivalent doctoral professional degree in natural sciences, engineering, or healthcare will be selected each year and assigned to work with the New Jersey Legislature and the Executive Branch.  The director of the fellowship program will determine the placement of the fellows assigned to work in the Executive Branch, as well as recruit and select all the fellows. 

     This bill appropriates $360,000 for the stipends and the administrative costs of the program.  The bill also appropriates a minimum of $520,000 annually to support the program.