The bill establishes the Gold Star Family Scholarship Program within the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA) to provide scholarships for eligible family members of service members who lost their lives while on active duty. Eligible recipients include spouses, children, parents, guardians, and siblings of these service members. HESAA will set the criteria for scholarship eligibility and determine the award amounts, which cannot exceed the average tuition charged by four-year public institutions in New Jersey. The program is funded through the newly created Gold Star Family Scholarship Fund, which will receive contributions from various sources, including a $2 annual surcharge on personalized license plates and voluntary contributions from taxpayers via their state income tax returns.

Additionally, the bill appropriates $100,000 from the General Fund to support the Gold Star Family Scholarship Fund. It includes provisions for the establishment of the fund, the criteria for scholarship awards, and the mechanisms for taxpayer contributions. The bill also amends existing law regarding the issuance of personalized license plates to include the new surcharge, ensuring that funds are directed to support the scholarship program. The various sections of the bill will take effect at different times, with most provisions becoming effective immediately, while the tax-related contributions will begin in the first full tax year following enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 39:3-33