Establishes scholarship program for students at public institutions of higher education pursuing certain community service-oriented opportunities; requires Secretary of Higher Education to establish grant program; appropriates $10 million.

A2459

ASSEMBLY, No. 2459

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2026 SESSION

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman TENNILLE R. MCCOY

District 14 (Mercer and Middlesex)

SYNOPSIS

���� Establishes scholarship program for students at
public institutions of higher education pursuing certain community
service-oriented opportunities; requires Secretary of Higher Education to
establish grant program; appropriates $10 million.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

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

��

An Act
establishing a scholarship for community
service-oriented programs at public institutions of higher education and making
an appropriation.

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

���� 1.��� a.� The Higher Education
Student Assistance Authority, in consultation with the Office of Volunteerism
in the Department of State, shall administer a two-year scholarship program for
students at public institutions of higher education pursuing opportunities to
perform community service. The program shall provide undergraduate students
with opportunities to serve in their communities, and address the critical
shortage of community service-oriented professionals in those fields of service
by:

���� (1)�� making college more
affordable for students who commit to serving in their communities;

���� (2)�� supporting the education
and career development of students pursuing a community service-oriented career
in the fields of climate action, K-12 education, and food insecurity; and

���� (3)�� increasing the workforce
and retention of community service-oriented professionals in the fields of
climate action, K-12 education, and food insecurity.

���� b.��� The authority shall
award scholarships in the amount of $10,000 to each program participant. To
qualify for participation in the scholarship program, a program participant
shall:

���� (1)�� be a resident of the
State in accordance with the provisions of N.J.S.18A:71B-2 or be eligible for
student financial aid pursuant to P.L.2018, c.12 (C.18A:71B-2.1);

���� (2)�� be enrolled full-time in
an undergraduate degree program at a public institution of higher education;

���� (3)�� commit to provide a
minimum of 15 hours per week in community-based service, particularly in the
fields of climate action, K-12 education, or food insecurity, for one full
academic year;

���� (4)�� submit an application to
the authority in a manner and on such forms as determined by the authority; and

���� (5)�� submit a written
statement to the authority detailing the candidate�s commitment, upon
completion of the degree, to full-time employment in a community
service-oriented profession related to climate action, K-12 education, or food
insecurity in the State.

���� c.���� The authority, in
consultation with the office, shall select the program participants from among
those applicants who meet the criteria set forth in subsection b. of this
section, subject to available funds, and may prioritize applicants who
demonstrate the greatest financial need.

���� d.��� Each scholarship awarded
under this act shall be contingent upon the program participant remaining in
good standing at the public institution of higher education.����

���� 2.��� a.� The Secretary of
Higher Education, in consultation with the Office of Volunteerism in the
Department of State, shall establish a two-year Community Service Grant
Program. The program shall provide grants to public institutions of higher
education to:

���� (1)�� establish partnerships
between the institutions and community-based service organizations that
specialize in providing services in the fields of climate action, K-12
education, or food insecurity; and

���� (2)�� provide undergraduate
students with opportunities to serve in their communities, particularly in the
fields of climate action, K-12 education, and food insecurity, pursuant to
section 1 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the Legislature as
this bill).

���� b.��� A public institution of
higher education that wishes to participate in the grant program established
pursuant to subsection a. of this section shall submit an application to the
Secretary of Higher Education in a manner and on such forms as determined by
the secretary.�

���� An application shall include
information concerning the institution�s proposed program, including its plan
to:

���� (1)�� partner with specific community-based
service organizations that specialize in providing services in the fields of
climate action, K-12 education, or food insecurity;

���� (2)�� promote the ideals and
benefits of community-based service, and inform students of opportunities to
serve in their communities while earning a scholarship for their service
pursuant to section 1 of P.L.��� , c.��� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill);

���� (3)�� provide program
participants with academic credit for their participation in the program;

���� (4)�� ensure program
participants attain real-world knowledge and experience in their field of
service while serving with the partner community-based service organizations;
and

���� (5)�� provide program
participants with access to training, networking, and professional development
opportunities during, and upon completion of, their service.

���� c.���� After reviewing the
applications submitted pursuant to subsection b. of this section, the
secretary, in consultation with the office, shall select 10 public institutions
of higher education to participate in the program. The secretary shall award a
grant in the amount of $100,000 to each grant recipient.

���� 3.��� There is appropriated
from the General Fund to the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority the
sum of $9,000,000 to provide the scholarships authorized under section 1 of
this act, and there is appropriated from the General Fund to the Secretary of
Higher Education the sum of $1,000,000 to provide the grants authorized under section
2 of this act.�

���� 4.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.

STATEMENT

���� This bill establishes a
scholarship program for students at public institutions of higher education,
and a grant program for public institutions of higher education, to promote
opportunities to perform community service.

���� Under the bill, the Higher
Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA), in consultation with the Office
of Volunteerism in the Department of State, will administer a two-year
scholarship program for students at public institutions of higher education
pursuing opportunities to perform community service. The program will provide
undergraduate students with opportunities to serve in their communities, and
address the critical shortage of community service-oriented professionals in
those fields of service by:

�

making college
more affordable for students who commit to serving in their communities;

�

supporting the
education and career development of students pursuing a community
service-oriented career in the fields of climate action, K-12 education, and
food insecurity; and

�

increasing the
workforce and retention of community service-oriented professionals in the
fields of climate action, K-12 education, and food insecurity.

���� Under the program, HESAA will
award scholarships in the amount of $10,000 to each program participant. Under
the bill, $9 million will be appropriated to HESAA for the purposes of awarding
scholarships.

���� The bill also requires the
Secretary of Higher Education, in consultation with the Office of Volunteerism,
to establish a two-year Community Service Grant Program. The program will
provide grants to public institutions of higher education to:

�

establish
partnerships between the institutions and community-based service organizations
that specialize in providing services in the fields of climate action, K-12
education, or food insecurity; and

�

provide
undergraduate students with opportunities to serve in their communities,
particularly in the fields of climate action, K-12 education, and food
insecurity, to so they can earn scholarships.

���� Under the bill, an application
is required to include information concerning the institution�s proposed
program, including its plan to:

�

partner with
specific community-based service organizations that specialize in providing
services in the fields of climate action, K-12 education, or food insecurity;

�

promote the
ideals and benefits of community-based service, and inform students of
opportunities to serve in their communities while earning a scholarship for
their service;

�

provide program
participants with academic credit for their participation in the program;

�

ensure program
participants attain real-world knowledge and experience in their field of
service while serving with the partner community-based service organizations;
and

�

provide program
participants with access to training, networking, and professional development
opportunities during, and upon completion of, their service.

���� The secretary, in consultation
with the office, will select 10 public institutions of higher education to
participate in the program. The secretary will award a grant in the amount of
$100,000 to each grant recipient. Under the bill, $1 million will be
appropriated to the secretary for the purposes of this act.