Bill > S2194

This bill establishes a two-year pilot program in New Jersey to provide tuition fee waivers for eligible individuals participating in registered apprenticeship courses at public institutions of higher education or county vocational schools. An "eligible person" is defined as someone who has not previously completed a pre-apprenticeship program and whose household income does not exceed 400% of the federal poverty level, which is a measure of income used to determine eligibility for federal programs. The bill also clarifies "gross aggregate household income" as the total annual income of all household members, and "registered apprenticeship" as a program recognized by the U.S. Department of Labor that combines classroom and on-the-job training. To qualify for the tuition waiver, individuals must not have their tuition covered by an employer, must complete financial aid applications and exhaust all other aid options, maintain active apprentice status and satisfactory academic progress, and pass their courses. The Department of Labor and Workforce Development will provide funding, capped at $500,000 annually, to institutions for these tuition costs, potentially utilizing funds from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund. The Commissioner of Labor and Workforce Development will report on the pilot program's results and provide recommendations for its continuation.