Sponsored by:
Senator RAJ MUKHERJI
District 32 (Hudson)
Senator ANTHONY M. BUCCO
District 25 (Morris and Passaic)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Cruz-Perez, Tiver, Amato, Space, Singleton, Diegnan, O'Scanlon, Johnson and Wimberly
SYNOPSIS
Permits member of New Jersey National Guard to transfer 50 percent of certain tuition benefit to dependent child or 100 percent of certain tuition benefit to spouse.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning tuition benefits available to New Jersey National Guard members and amending P.L.1999, c.46.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 21 of P.L.1999, c.46 (C.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;
(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 tuition benefits available through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs for which the member 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.), except that such application shall not be required in the case of a tuition benefit transfer by the member as permitted by federal law.
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, and for any spouse or dependent who enrolls in the institution pursuant to the provisions of subsections d. and e. 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 under the "Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-252 (38 U.S.C. s.3301 et seq.).
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.
d. Any member of the New Jersey National Guard who has completed Initial Active Duty Training and is in good standing as an active member of the New Jersey National Guard may transfer the benefit available pursuant to subsection a. of this section to a spouse or dependent child, provided that the spouse or dependent child:
(1) 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
(2) has applied for all available State student grants and scholarships and all available federal student grants and scholarships for which the spouse or dependent child is eligible.
A member may only transfer the benefit pursuant to this subsection to one person.
e. (1) A spouse receiving a benefit transferred pursuant to subsection d. of this section shall be eligible to receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free at a public institution of higher education.
(2) A dependent child receiving a benefit transferred pursuant to subsection d. of this section shall be eligible to receive up to eight credits per semester tuition-free at a public institution of higher education.
(cf: P.L.2009. c.208, s.1)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill permits a member of the New Jersey National Guard to transfer a certain tuition benefit to the member’s spouse or child.
Under current law, any member of the New Jersey National Guard is permitted to attend courses at any public institution of higher education and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free provided that the member has:
(1) completed Initial Active Duty Training and is in good standing as an active member of the New Jersey National Guard;
(2) 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;
(3) 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) applied for certain federal tuition benefits available through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.
The bill permits any member of the New Jersey National Guard, who is eligible for the tuition benefit available under current law, to transfer the benefit to a spouse or dependent child, provided that the spouse or child:
(1) 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
(2) has applied for all available State student grants and scholarships and all available federal student grants and scholarships for which the spouse or child is eligible.
The bill provides that a member may only transfer the benefit to one person.
Under the bill, a spouse receiving a transferred tuition benefit is eligible to receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free at a public institution of higher education. The bill further provides that a dependent child receiving a transferred tuition benefit is eligible to receive up to eight credits per semester tuition-free.