Requires public institution of higher education to adopt withdrawal policy permitting refund for certain extenuating circumstances.

A1319

ASSEMBLY, No. 1319

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman CODY D. MILLER

District 4 (Atlantic, Camden and Gloucester)

Assemblywoman ANDREA KATZ

District 8 (Atlantic and Burlington)

Assemblywoman LUANNE M. PETERPAUL

District 11 (Monmouth)

Co-Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman Bagolie, Assemblymen Sampson, Hutchison and
Assemblywoman Morales

SYNOPSIS

���� Requires public institution of higher education to
adopt withdrawal policy permitting refund for certain extenuating
circumstances.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative
Counsel.

��

An Act
concerning withdrawal policies at public institutions
of higher education and supplementing chapter 62 of Title 18A of the New Jersey
Statutes.

����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:

���� 1.��� a.� A public institution
of higher education shall adopt a policy to permit a student to withdraw for an
extenuating circumstance and receive a refund.�

���� b.��� The policy shall:

���� (1)�� define �extenuating
circumstance,� which shall include, but is not limited to: illness; injury;
hospitalization; and mental health and wellness;�

���� (2)�� include a provision to
refund tuition and fees paid by the student for the semester in which the
student withdraws if the extenuating circumstances inhibit the student�s
ability to acquire an education at the institution;

���� (3)�� establish criteria to
determine whether a student�s ability to acquire an education has been
inhibited by an extenuating circumstance;

���� (4)�� include a provision that
any student who withdraws in compliance with the policy and who has paid
amounts for room, board, or fees is entitled to a refund of the portion of those
charges attributable to the time period during which the facilities or services
were not used by the student; and

���� (5)�� explain that any refund
payable to a student who is a financial aid recipient or State aid recipient is
subject to the applicable State and federal laws and regulations regarding
refunds.

���� 2.� This act shall take effect
immediately and shall first apply to the first full academic year following the
date of enactment.

STATEMENT

���� This bill requires each public
institution of higher education to adopt a policy that permits a student to
withdraw for an extenuating circumstance and receive a refund.

���� Under the bill, the policy is
required to:

���� (1)�� define �extenuating
circumstance,� which is to include: illness; injury; hospitalization; and
mental health and wellness;

���� (2)�� include a provision to
refund tuition and fees paid by the student for the semester in which the
student withdraws if the extenuating circumstances inhibit the student�s
ability to acquire an education at the institution;

���� (3)�� establish criteria to
determine whether a student�s ability to acquire an education has been
inhibited by an extenuating circumstance;

���� (4)�� include a provision that
any student who withdraws in compliance with the policy and who has paid
amounts for room, board, or fees is entitled to a refund of the portion of
those charges attributable to the time period during which the facilities or
services were not used by the student; and

���� (5)�� explain that any refund
payable to a student who is a financial aid recipient or State aid recipient is
subject to the applicable State and federal laws and regulations regarding
refunds.