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A4597 • 2026

Provides that student is ineligible for State financial aid upon conviction for hazing.

Provides that student is ineligible for State financial aid upon conviction for hazing.

Education
Passed Legislature

This bill passed both chambers and reached final enrollment, even if later executive action is not shown here.

Sponsor
Murphy, Carol A.
Last action
2026-03-10
Official status
Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee
Effective date
Not listed

Plain English Breakdown

Using official source text because the generated explanation was unavailable or could not be confirmed against the official bill text.

Provides that student is ineligible for State financial aid upon conviction for hazing.

Provides that student is ineligible for State financial aid upon conviction for hazing.

What This Bill Does

  • Provides that student is ineligible for State financial aid upon conviction for hazing.
  • Topic: Higher Education Fiscal note: This bill has not been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Limits and Unknowns

  • This entry is temporarily using official source text because the generated explanation could not be confirmed against the official bill text during the last sync.

Bill History

  1. 2026-03-10 New Jersey Legislature

    Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee

Official Summary Text

Provides that student is ineligible for State financial aid upon conviction for hazing.
Topic:
Higher Education
Fiscal note:
This bill has not been certified by OLS for a fiscal note.

Current Bill Text

Read the full stored bill text 
A4597

ASSEMBLY, No. 4597

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED MARCH 10, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblywoman� CAROL A. MURPHY

District 7 (Burlington)

SYNOPSIS

���� Provides that student is ineligible for State
financial aid upon conviction for hazing.�

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

concerning eligibility for student financial aid
and amending N.J.S.18A:71B-2.

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

���� 1.��� N.J.S.18A:71B-2 is
amended to read as follows:

���� 18A:71B-2.���� a.� A student
who is enrolled in an eligible institution and who is eligible for and receives
any form of student financial aid through a program administered by the State
under this chapter shall be considered to remain domiciled in New Jersey and
eligible for continued financial assistance notwithstanding the fact that the
student is financially dependent upon the student's parents or guardians and
that the parents or guardians change their domicile to another State.

���� b.��� A person shall not be
awarded financial aid under this chapter unless the person has been a resident
of this State for a period of not less than 12 months immediately prior to
receiving the financial aid.

���� c.���� A person shall not be
awarded student financial aid under this chapter unless the person is a United
States citizen or eligible noncitizen, as determined under 20 U.S.C.s.1091.�
The authority shall determine whether persons who were eligible noncitizens prior
to the effective date of the "Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity
Reconciliation Act of 1996," Pub.L.104-193, but not after that date, shall
continue to be eligible for student financial aid under this chapter.

���� d.��� A person who is
incarcerated shall be eligible for student financial aid under this chapter
provided that:

���� (1)�� the person had been a
resident of this State for a period of not less than 12 months immediately
prior to the date of incarceration;

���� (2)�� the person is a
State-sentenced inmate; and

���� (3)�� the person receives
approval from the Department of Corrections to enroll in an eligible
institution.

����
e.���� A person who is
convicted of hazing or aggravated hazing under P.L.1980, c.169 (C.2C:40-3 et
seq.) shall not be eligible for student financial aid under this chapter.

(cf: P.L.2019, c.282, s.1)

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

STATEMENT

���� This bill provides that a
student is ineligible for State financial

aid upon a conviction for hazing or
aggravated hazing under P.L.1980, c.169 (C.2C:40-3 et seq.).

���� Recent high-profile hazing
incidents, such as the death of a fraternity pledge at Pennsylvania State
University in February 2017, Louisiana State University in September 2017, and
Florida State University in November 2017, demonstrate that hazing continues to
be a problem with severe and fatal consequences.� This bill establishes an
additional deterrent to hazing by making a student ineligible for State
financial aid upon a conviction of hazing or aggravated hazing.