Bill > S1892

Introduced Session

This bill establishes the "Domestic Violence Tuition Waiver Program," and directs the New Jersey Higher Education Student Assistance Authority to implement and administer the program. The bill provides that the purpose of the program is to provide State-paid tuition or a tuition waiver, for one semester, to persons who are victims of domestic violence and who, as a result of the domestic violence, were unable to complete a course of study at an institution of higher education or county vocational school post-secondary program in this State. Under the bill, the State will reimburse an institution of higher education or county vocational school for the tuition cost of each person who enrolls in the institution or school pursuant to the provisions of the bill. The bill provides that a person who meets the following requirements at the time of the initial application to the authority will be eligible for the tuition waiver program: -- the person qualifies for admission to a New Jersey public institution of higher education or county vocational school post-secondary program; -- the person is a documented victim of domestic violence; -- the person was enrolled in a course of study in a New Jersey public institution of higher education or county vocational school post-secondary program at the time of occurrence of the act of domestic violence, was unable to complete the course of study because of that act, and submits an affidavit to that effect; -- no more than two years have passed since the act of domestic violence; and -- the person is seeking to reenroll in the same or substantially similar course of study. The bill provides that a person who meets the eligibility requirements may apply to the authority for a tuition waiver in a form and manner prescribed by the authority. The bill provides that the authority, upon receipt of an application, will review the application and, if the applicant meets the eligibility requirements, approve the application and notify the appropriate New Jersey public institution of higher education or county vocational school that the person qualifies for a waiver of one semester's tuition for the course work left incomplete as a result of the incidence of domestic violence. The bill provides that eligibility for the program will be limited to two years from the date the applicant is notified of acceptance by the authority for a tuition waiver. The bill provides that no applicant will be granted more than one tuition waiver. The bill permits the authority to adopt rules and regulations, in accordance with the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.), to effectuate the purposes of the bill. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Jim Beach (D)*,  Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D)*, 

Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Judiciary Committee (on 02/24/2020)

Official Document