This bill amends current law to allow public institutions of higher education in New Jersey to assess funds for legislative agents and organizations that attempt to influence legislation on student tuition bills as waivable fees. Previously, such assessments were prohibited unless authorized by a majority vote in a student referendum for optional fees. The bill eliminates the need for this referendum process, enabling these fees to be included on tuition bills without prior student approval, while still allowing students the option to waive the fee.

Under the new provisions, a waivable fee is defined as any amount that appears as a separately assessed item on a student tuition bill but is not mandatory. The bill mandates that these waivable fees must be accompanied by a statement detailing the nature of the fee, clarifying that it is not required to be paid, outlining the process for waiving it, and indicating that the presence of the fee does not imply endorsement by the governing body of the institution. This change aims to streamline the funding process for legislative agents and organizations while ensuring transparency for students regarding the fees assessed.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:62-22