Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LINDA S. CARTER
District 22 (Somerset and Union)
Assemblyman CODY D. MILLER
District 4 (Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblywoman LUANNE M. PETERPAUL
District 11 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblyman S.Kean, Assemblywoman Reynolds-Jackson, Assemblyman Wimberly, Assemblywoman Hall and Assemblyman Atkins
SYNOPSIS
Makes FY2025 supplemental appropriation of $20 million for provision of summer tuition aid grants.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Supplement to the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, P.L.2024, c.22.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. In addition to the amounts appropriated under P.L.2024, c.22, the annual appropriations act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2025, there is appropriated from the General Fund the following amount for the purpose specified:
74 DEPARTMENT OF STATE
30 Educational, Cultural, and Intellectual Development
36 Higher Educational Services
2405 Higher Education Student Assistance Authority
GRANTS-IN-AID
45-2405 Student Assistance Programs ............................ $20,000,000
Total Grants-in-Aid Appropriation,
Higher Education Student Assistance Authority $20,000,000
Grants-in-Aid:
45 Summer Tuition Aid Grants .............. ($20,000,000)
Notwithstanding the provisions of section 2 of P.L.2023, c.34 (C.18A:71B-20a) or of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the amount hereinabove appropriated for Summer Tuition Aid Grants shall be used to provide summer tuition aid grant awards to applicants eligible for summer tuition aid grants pursuant to subsection d. of N.J.S.18A:71B-20 at 75 percent of the maximum amounts for which the applicants qualify pursuant to the provisions of section 2 of P.L.2023, c.34 (C.18A:71B-20a).
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill provides a $20 million supplemental appropriation to the fiscal year (FY) 2025 appropriations act for the provision of Summer Tuition Aid Grants. The bill also adds language to the FY 2025 appropriations act providing that eligible students are to receive 75 percent of the full grant award amount for which they are eligible under current law.
Pursuant to current law, the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority is required to offer summer tuition aid grant awards to eligible students who: received a tuition aid grant award in the immediately preceding fall or spring semester; are enrolled in at least six credit hours during the summer semester; and are enrolled in summer coursework for the same undergraduate program at the same institution of higher education in which the student was enrolled during the students most recent semester of enrollment in the preceding academic year. The amount of a students summer tuition aid grant is prorated against the full-time tuition aid grant award provided to the student in the preceding semester. Current law provides that an eligible student enrolled in six to eight credits receives one-half of the value of a full-time award. An eligible student receives three-quarters of a full-time award if enrolled in nine to 11 credits.
The $20 million appropriation provided pursuant to this bill for summer tuition aid grants would fund 75 percent of the maximum amount for which students are otherwise eligible under current law. The summer tuition aid grants authorized pursuant to the bill would fund awards to eligible students enrolled in courses in the summer 2025 semester.