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S2194 SLA Statement 2/5/26
SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE
STATEMENT TO
SENATE, No.
2194
with
committee amendments
STATE
OF NEW JERSEY
DATED:
FEBRUARY
5, 2026
����� The Senate Labor Committee reports favorably and with
committee amendments Senate Bill No. 2194.
����� As amended, this bill establishes a two-year
tuition-free apprenticeship pilot program that requires public institutions of
higher education to waive the tuition fees of certain courses which are
qualified to serve as the classroom training or education component of a
registered apprenticeship for eligible persons.
����� Under the bill, an eligible person is an individual who
has not previously completed a pre-apprenticeship program and whose gross
aggregate household income at the time of admission to a New Jersey public
institution of higher education or county vocational does not exceed 400
percent of the federal poverty level.� The person is to be deemed eligible for
a tuition fee waiver if:
����� 1.�� tuition costs are not covered by the employer
through employment benefits;
����� 2.�� the person completes a New Jersey Alternative
Financial Aid Application or a Free Application for Federal Student Aid each
year and has exhausted all financial aid assistance;
����� 3.�� the person retains employment as an active
registered apprentice under the registered apprenticeship program and maintains
satisfactory academic progress to qualify for renewal of the tuition waiver;
and
����� 4.�� the person completes each course for which a
tuition waiver is provided with a passing grade.
����� The bill requires the Department of Labor and
Workforce Development to reimburse public institutions of higher education and
county vocational schools for the cost of the tuition waivers.
����� This bill was prefiled for introduction in the
2026-2027 session pending technical review.� As reported, the bill includes the
changes required by technical review, which has been performed.
COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS
:
����� The committee amended the bill to:
����� (1)� clarify that an eligible person is an individual
who has not previously completed a pre-apprenticeship program and whose gross
aggregate household income at the time of admission to a New Jersey public
institution of higher education or county vocational school does not exceed 400
percent of the federal poverty level;
����� (2)� provide that the bill will be a two-year pilot
program;
����� (3)� provide that an individual is to be deemed
eligible for a tuition fee waiver if the person completes a New Jersey
Alternative Financial Aid Application or a Free Application for Federal Student
Aid under the provisions of the bill and additionally provide that the
individual must complete each course for which a tuition waiver is provided
with a passing grade;
����� (4)� provide that the Department of Labor and
Workforce Development will provide funding in an amount not to exceed $500,000
per year to public institutions of higher education and county vocational
schools for the tuition cost of eligible persons who enroll in the institution
pursuant to the provisions of the bill with any available funds provided to the
State under the Wagner-Peyser Act, or from funds that may be available from the
Workforce Development Partnership Fund which was appropriated pursuant to the
annual appropriations act for State fiscal year 2026; and
����� (5)� require the Commissioner of Labor and Workforce
Development to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature on the
results of the pilot program, including information on the individuals served,
program spending, and a recommendation regarding its continuation.