This bill aims to phase out State tuition aid grants for students enrolled in proprietary institutions of higher education, redirecting the funding to a summer tuition aid grant program. Starting with the 2026-2027 academic year, State tuition aid grants will only be available to students who received an award prior to that year, allowing them to continue receiving support until they are no longer eligible. The bill also stipulates that funds previously allocated for proprietary institutions will be appropriated for summer tuition aid grants for students enrolled in eligible institutions, which include county colleges, public research universities, State colleges, and independent institutions of higher education.

Key amendments include the definition of eligible institutions and the requirement for these institutions to provide graduation and transfer rates of State tuition aid grant recipients to the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority. Additionally, the bill establishes that summer tuition aid grants will be funded by a separate line item in the annual appropriations act starting in the 2025 summer semester, with provisions for funding from unexpended balances for the 2023 and 2024 semesters. Overall, the legislation seeks to reallocate financial support towards summer education while gradually reducing aid for proprietary institutions.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:71B-19.1, 18A:71B-20