This bill amends current New Jersey law to explicitly prohibit undocumented students from receiving Tuition Aid Grants and Summer Tuition Aid Grants. Previously, the law allowed students without lawful immigration status to apply for various student financial aid programs, including these grants, as long as they met certain criteria. The new language inserted into the law clarifies that only students who are lawful citizens of the United States or eligible noncitizens can receive these specific types of financial aid.

In addition to the prohibition, the bill establishes that eligibility for Tuition Aid Grants and Summer Tuition Aid Grants requires students to demonstrate lawful immigration status. The bill modifies existing eligibility criteria by adding a requirement that recipients must be lawful citizens or eligible noncitizens, while maintaining the current eligibility requirements for other student financial aid programs. The changes take effect immediately and will apply to the first full academic year following the date of enactment.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 18A:71B-2.1