Expands volunteer tuition credit program to volunteers and eligible dependents enrolled in four-year public institutions of higher education and increases maximum value of tuition credit.

A5249

ASSEMBLY, No. 5249

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED JUNE 11, 2026

Sponsored by:

Assemblyman� STERLEY S. STANLEY

District 18 (Middlesex)

SYNOPSIS

���� Expands volunteer tuition credit program to
volunteers and eligible dependents enrolled in four-year public institutions of
higher education and increases maximum value of tuition credit.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act
concerning the volunteer tuition credit program and
amending P.L.1998, c.145.

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

���� 1.��� Section 1 of P.L.1998,
c.145 (C.18A:71-78.1) is amended to read as follows:

���� 1.��� A person who is an
active member of a volunteer fire company or volunteer first aid or rescue
squad or association in good standing and the dependent children and spouse of
a volunteer shall be allowed to enroll in a postsecondary program on a
tuition-free basis in a county college, county vocational school
[
or
]
,

county technical institute
, or four-year public institution of higher
education
and be eligible to receive tuition credit in an amount not to
exceed a maximum of
[
$2,400
]

$4,000

for the member, children and spouse; provided that available classroom space
permits and that tuition paying students constitute the minimum number required
for the course.� Nothing herein shall preclude a county college, county
vocational school
[
or
]

,
county
technical institute
, or four-year public institution of higher education

from requiring registration and lab fees for individuals attending courses
pursuant to this act.

(cf: P.L.1998, c.145, s.1)

���� 2.��� Section 2 of P.L.1998,
c.145 (C.18A:71-78.2) is amended to read as follows:

���� 2.��� In order to be eligible
to receive tuition credit at a county college, county vocational school
[
or
]
,

county technical institute
, or four-year public institution of higher
education
, a person shall agree to serve as a member of a volunteer fire
company or volunteer first aid or rescue squad or association for a minimum of
four years and sign an agreement with the municipality in which the squad or
association is located pledging four years of service in exchange for the
tuition credit.� Following each year of volunteer service performed, the
volunteer or the spouse or dependent child shall be entitled to receive tuition
credit of up to
[
$600
]
$1,000
,
not to exceed a maximum of
[
$2,400
]

$4,000

for the member, children and spouse over a four-year service period.

(cf: P.L.1998, c.145, s.2)

���� 3.��� Section 3 of P.L.1998,
c.145 (C.18A:71-78.3) is amended to read as follows:

���� 3.��� Upon being accepted and
enrolled in a county college, county vocational school
[
or
]
,

county technical institute
, or four-year public institution of higher
education
, the volunteer, dependent child or spouse shall provide
verification to the institution that the volunteer has performed the service
required for the tuition credit.� Upon completion of each semester, the
volunteer shall submit a transcript to the municipality to be maintained in a
permanent record.� The volunteer or the dependent child or spouse shall
maintain a "C" grade average in order to continue eligibility for the
tuition credit program.

(cf: P.L.1998, c.145, s.3)

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

STATEMENT

���� Through the Volunteer Tuition
Credit Program, an active member of a volunteer fire company or volunteer first
aid or rescue squad, and the dependent children and spouse of a volunteer, may
enroll in a postsecondary program on a tuition-free basis in a county college,
county vocational school, or county technical institute and be eligible to
receive tuition credit in an amount not to exceed $600 per year, provided that
available classroom space permits and that tuition paying students constitute
the minimum number required for the course.� The maximum value of the tuition
credit available through the program is currently set at $2,400 over a
four-year period of eligibility.�

���� This bill expands the program
to volunteers, and their dependent children and spouses, who enroll in a
four-year public institution of higher education.� This bill also increases the
maximum value of the tuition credit available through the program to $1,000 per
year, for a maximum total tuition credit of $4,000 over four years of
eligibility.