New Jersey Assembly Bill A3112

New Jersey 2022-2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 3/7/22
• Refer: 3/7/22

Caption

Allows military member to qualify for resident tuition rate at county college.

Impact

By officially recognizing military personnel and their dependents as county residents for tuition purposes, A3112 could lead to significant cost savings for military families who are pursuing higher education at county colleges. The immediate effect of this legislation would be observed starting from the 2022-2023 academic year, thus providing timely assistance to military families seeking educational opportunities. It may enhance access to education for these individuals, easing their financial burdens, especially compared to the often higher non-resident rates.

Summary

Assembly Bill A3112 proposes to allow members of the United States military and their dependents, who are living in New Jersey, to qualify for the resident tuition rate at county colleges. This measure aims to benefit those military individuals stationed in New Jersey, ensuring they and their dependents receive the same educational financial support as local residents. Currently, many military members hold addresses outside their respective counties, which disqualifies them from accessing lower county tuition rates, typically offered to local residents.

Contention

The discussion surrounding A3112 is primarily focused on the equity of educational opportunities for military families. While proponents argue that military service should afford individuals certain benefits, including favorable educational costs, opponents may raise concerns regarding the capacity of county colleges to accommodate this additional influx of resident students and whether this could detract from resources available to non-military local residents. Moreover, scrutiny may be directed at how effectively the bill’s provisions can be enforced in terms of residency verification.