Prohibits public institution of higher education from charging tuition to student who is dependent child of veteran who died or is disabled as result of service-related injury.
If enacted, S870 would amend Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes to include provisions for substantial educational financial relief to families of veterans. The bill establishes criteria for eligibility, which includes the necessity for dependent children to have applied for other available federal and state educational benefits, signifying a comprehensive approach to supporting their education. Additionally, the state plans to reimburse public institutions of higher education for the cost of waiving this tuition, which aims to alleviate the financial burden of such education on the institutions themselves.
Senate Bill S870 proposes that the dependent children of veterans, who have died, are missing in action (MIA), or are permanently disabled due to service-related injuries, receive tuition-free enrollment in public institutions of higher education in New Jersey. Specifically, the bill allows for up to 60 credit hours in associate degree programs and 120 credit hours in baccalaureate degree programs to be waived for eligible students, ensuring these benefits apply to New Jersey residents who meet certain academic and application requirements.
There may be contention surrounding the implementation and fiscal implications of this bill, as it requires state funding to reimburse universities for tuition waivers. Critics may argue about the strain this could place on educational budgets, while supporters emphasize the moral imperative to support the families of veterans. The necessity for the bill to stipulate that dependent children must first exhaust various educational benefits could also be a point of discussion, as it reinforces the obligation to utilize all available resources before relying on state support.