Bill > A921

Introduced Session

The volunteer tuition credit program, established under P.L.1998, c.145, provides a tuition credit benefit of up to $2,400 over four years to active members of a volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid or rescue squad or association and the dependent children and spouse of such members. Under the program, eligible members may enroll in a postsecondary program at a county college, county vocational school or county technical institute, provided that available classroom space permits and that tuition paying students constitute the minimum number required for the course. As implemented, participating institutions apply the tuition credit against the student's tuition bill. This bill clarifies the original intent of the Legislature that the tuition credit program is available for enrollment in both credit and non-credit courses. Evidently some county colleges have interpreted the use of the word "transcript" to mean that the program is only available for credit-bearing courses. Emergency services volunteers provide invaluable service to our communities at a cost which is often less than the cost of paid personnel. This selfless volunteerism helps many New Jersey communities to effectively control property taxes. Consequently, to express gratitude for the services provided by the volunteers, county colleges, county vocational schools and county technical institutes should work to ensure that the credit is available to each eligible volunteer.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

DiAnne Gove (R)*,  Brian Rumpf (R)*, 

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee (on 01/14/2020)