This bill amends current law to allow members of the New Jersey National Guard to transfer a portion of their tuition benefits to their spouse or dependent child. Specifically, it permits a member to transfer 50 percent of their tuition benefit to a dependent child or 100 percent to a spouse. The eligibility criteria for the spouse or child include being accepted and enrolled in a course of study at a public institution of higher education and having applied for all available state and federal student grants and scholarships. Additionally, the bill stipulates that a member can only transfer the benefit to one individual.

Under the revised provisions, a spouse receiving the transferred benefit can access up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free, while a dependent child can receive up to eight credits per semester tuition-free. The bill also ensures that the state will reimburse public institutions for the tuition costs incurred for both the National Guard member and any spouse or dependent who enrolls under these new provisions, provided that the costs are not covered by federal tuition benefits.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:62-24