This bill amends current law to allow public institutions of higher education in New Jersey to assess funds for legislative agents and organizations attempting 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 related to nonpartisan organizations. The bill eliminates this referendum requirement, enabling these fees to be included on tuition bills without prior student approval.

Under the new provisions, waivable fees will be defined as amounts that appear as separately assessed items on tuition bills but are not mandatory charges. The bill mandates that these 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 the fee, 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 nature of these fees.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:62-22