SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2739

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 19, 2020

     The Senate Higher Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2739.

     This bill eliminates the citizenship requirement for student representatives on boards of trustees of certain public institutions of higher education.

      Under current law, the boards of trustees of the State colleges and two of the State’s public research universities, Rowan University and Montclair State University, are required to include two student representatives elected by the student body or student government association, as applicable.  Currently, the statutes governing these public institutions of higher education require each student representative to be a citizen of the United States.  Under this bill, a student representative would no longer be required to be a United States citizen.