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A4986
ASSEMBLY, No. 4986
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
222nd LEGISLATURE
�
INTRODUCED MAY 7, 2026
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman� ALEX SAUICKIE
District 12 (Burlington, Middlesex, Monmouth and Ocean)
SYNOPSIS
���� Requires State Board of Education to establish
program to pay high school equivalency exam fees for certain low-income
individuals; provides gross income tax and corporation business tax deductions
for donations made to support fees.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
���� As introduced.
��
An Act
concerning
high school equivalency exam fees and
supplementing chapter 50A of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes, chapter 3 of
Title 54A of the New Jersey Statutes, and P.L.1945, c.162 (C.54:10A-1 et seq.).
����
Be It
Enacted
by the Senate and General Assembly of
the State of New Jersey:
���� 1.��� This act shall be known
and may be cited as the �We Believe In You Act.�
���� 2. a.� As used in this section:
���� �High school equivalency exam�
means any adult education assessment approved by the State Board of Education as
a basis for qualifying for a State-issued high school diploma.
���� �Low-income individual� means
an individual who resides in a household in which the household income is less
than or equal to 150 percent of the most recent federal poverty guidelines
available.
���� b.� The State Board of
Education shall establish a program to pay the fee of a high school equivalency
exam on behalf of a low-income individual.� The State board shall specify the
manner in which an individual may apply for the payment, including the documentation
that shall be used to verify the individual�s income.
���� 3.��� There is established in
the Department of Education a dedicated, nonlapsing fund, designated as the �We
Believe In You Fund.� The fund shall be credited with all moneys appropriated
or otherwise made available for the purposes of the fund, including, but not
limited to, donations for which a taxpayer is eligible for a deduction pursuant
to section 4 or 5 of P.L.��� , c.���� (C.������� ) (pending before the
Legislature as this bill).� Disbursements from the fund shall be used for the
purpose of paying the fee of a high school equivalency exam on behalf of a
low-income individual pursuant to section 2 of P.L.��� , c.���� (C.������� )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill).
���� 4.��� A taxpayer shall be
allowed to deduct from gross income an amount equal to the total amount of
donations made by the taxpayer in a taxable year beginning on or after the
effective date of P.L.��� , c. (pending before the
Legislature as this bill) to the We Believe In You Fund established pursuant to
section 3 of P.L.��� , c.���� (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill).
���� 5.��� A taxpayer shall be
allowed to deduct from entire net income, or such portion thereof as may be
allocable to this State as provided in section 6 of P.L.1945, c.162
(C.54:10A-6) plus such portion thereof as is specifically assigned to this
State as provided in section 5 of P.L.1993, c.173 (C.54:10A-6.1), an amount
equal to the total amount of donations made by the taxpayer during a privilege
period beginning on or after the effective date of
P.L. , c. (pending before
the Legislature as this bill) to the We Believe In You Fund established
pursuant to section 3 of P.L.��� , c.���� (C. )
(pending before the Legislature as this bill).
���� 6.��� This act shall take
effect immediately.
STATEMENT
���� This bill requires the State
Board of Education to establish a program to pay the fee of a high school
equivalency exam on behalf of a low-income individual.� The State board would
be required to specify the manner in which an individual may apply for the
payment, including the documentation that would be used to verify the
individual�s income. The bill defines �high school equivalency exam� as any
adult education assessment approved by the State Board of Education as a basis
for qualifying for a State-issued high school diploma.� �Low-income individual�
means an individual who resides in a household in which the household income is
less than or equal to 150 percent of the most recent federal poverty guidelines
available.
���� The bill establishes in the
Department of Education a dedicated, nonlapsing fund, designated as the �We
Believe In You Fund.� The fund would be credited with all moneys appropriated
or otherwise made available for the purposes of the fund, including, but not
limited to, donations for which a taxpayer is eligible for a deduction under
the provisions of the bill.� Disbursements from the fund would be used for the
purpose of paying the fee of a high school equivalency exam on behalf of a
low-income individual.
���� The bill authorizes a gross
income tax or corporation business tax deduction in an amount equal to the
total amount of donations made by a taxpayer during a tax year to the We
Believe In You Fund.
���� Currently, individuals who
achieve the Statewide standard score on a New Jersey high school equivalency
exam are awarded a State-issued high school diploma. A high school diploma is a
foundational step toward economic security, and is often the minimum
requirement for many jobs in the State. A high school diploma also provides
access to higher education and military service. Without a diploma, career
options may be limited. Additionally, a high school diploma significantly
boosts lifetime earnings compared to individuals without a diploma. On average,
diploma holders earn 70 percent more over their lifetime than those without a
diploma. Individuals without a diploma may be more likely to face poverty and
unemployment. This bill would make the high school equivalency test more
accessible for low-income individuals in the State.