This bill establishes guidelines for how institutions of higher education and degree-granting proprietary institutions in New Jersey can use the criminal history of applicants and students. Generally, applications for admission cannot inquire about an applicant's criminal history, except for a specific question regarding convictions for serious offenses such as criminal homicide, human trafficking, and sexual assault. If an applicant is denied admission based on their criminal history, the institution must notify them and allow for an appeal, considering factors such as the time elapsed since the offense, the applicant's age at the time, and evidence of rehabilitation. Additionally, institutions may consider criminal history if voluntarily provided by the applicant or if included in a national application service.

Once admitted, institutions can inquire further into a student's criminal history, which may be used for supportive counseling and decisions regarding campus participation. The bill also allows institutions offering educator preparation programs to consider criminal history for counseling purposes, while prohibiting denial of continuation in academic programs based solely on criminal history. Furthermore, students can use the Common Application, provided it does not request criminal history information, except for the specified serious offenses. Overall, the bill aims to balance the need for safety and accountability with opportunities for rehabilitation and inclusion in higher education.