Permits member of New Jersey National Guard to transfer 50 percent of certain tuition benefit to dependent child or 100 percent of certain tuition benefit to spouse.

S3387

SENATE, No. 3387

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

222nd LEGISLATURE

�

INTRODUCED FEBRUARY 9, 2026

Sponsored by:

Senator� RAJ MUKHERJI

District 32 (Hudson)

Senator� ANTHONY M. BUCCO

District 25 (Morris and Passaic)

Co-Sponsored by:

Senators Cruz-Perez, Tiver, Amato, Space, Singleton,
Diegnan, O'Scanlon, Johnson and Wimberly

SYNOPSIS

���� Permits member of New Jersey National Guard to
transfer 50 percent of certain tuition benefit to dependent child or 100
percent of certain tuition benefit to spouse.

CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT

���� As introduced.

��

An Act

concerning tuition benefits available to New
Jersey National Guard members and amending P.L.1999, c.46.

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

���� 1.��� Section 21 of P.L.1999,
c.46 (C.18A:62-24) is amended to read as follows:

���� 18A:62-24. a. Any member of
the New Jersey National Guard shall be permitted to attend regularly-scheduled
courses at any public institution of higher education in this State enumerated
in N.J.S.18A:62-1 and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free
provided that:

���� (1)�� the member has completed
Initial Active Duty Training and, except as otherwise provided pursuant to
subsection c. of this section, is in good standing as an active member of the
New Jersey National Guard;

���� (2)�� the member has been
accepted to pursue a course of undergraduate study and is enrolled as an
undergraduate student in good standing at that institution or a course of
graduate study and is enrolled as a graduate student in good standing at that
institution;

���� (3)�� the member has applied
for all available State student grants and scholarships and all available
federal student grants and scholarships for which the member is eligible; and

���� (4)�� the member has applied
for tuition benefits available through the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs for which the member is eligible under the "Post-9/11 Veterans
Educational Assistance Act of 2008," Pub.L.110-252 (38 U.S.C. s.3301 et
seq.), except that such application shall not be required in the case of a
tuition benefit transfer by the member as permitted by federal law.

���� b.��� The State shall
reimburse a public institution of higher education for the tuition cost of each
National Guard member who enrolls in the institution pursuant to the provisions
of this section
,

and for any spouse or dependent who enrolls in the
institution pursuant to the provisions of subsections d. and e. of this section,

to the extent that the tuition cost is not paid through tuition benefits
available to the member through the United States Department of Veterans
Affairs under the "Post-9/11 Veterans Educational Assistance Act of
2008," Pub.L.110-252 (38 U.S.C. s.3301 et seq.).

���� c.���� Any member of the New
Jersey National Guard whose enrollment in a public institution of higher
education on a tuition-free basis pursuant to subsection a. of this section is
interrupted by a deployment to active duty shall be permitted to receive the
free tuition benefit after discharge from service under conditions other than
dishonorable.� In the event of a non-medical discharge or a medical discharge
that is not caused by an illness or injury related to the performance of duties
for the National Guard, eligibility for the free tuition benefit shall begin
from the date of discharge and shall continue for one semester or a period of
time equal to the length of the deployment, whichever is longer.� In the event
of medical discharge or medical retirement as a result of illness or injury
incurred in the combat theater, as a result of terrorist action, or in the
response to a natural disaster, eligibility for the free tuition benefit shall
begin from the date of discharge or retirement and shall continue until completion
of the degree program in which enrolled or for five years, whichever occurs
first.

����
d.� Any member of the New
Jersey National Guard who has completed Initial Active Duty Training and is in
good standing as an active member of the New Jersey National Guard may transfer
the benefit available pursuant to subsection a. of this section to a spouse or dependent
child, provided that the spouse or dependent child:

����
(1)�� has been accepted to
pursue a course of undergraduate study and is enrolled as an undergraduate
student in good standing at that institution or a course of graduate study and
is enrolled as a graduate student in good standing at that institution; and�

����
(2)�� has applied for all
available State student grants and scholarships and all available federal
student grants and scholarships for which the spouse or dependent child is
eligible.�

����
A member may only transfer
the benefit pursuant to this subsection to one person.

����
e.� (1)� A spouse receiving
a benefit transferred pursuant to subsection d. of this section shall be
eligible to receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free at a public
institution of higher education.

����
(2)� A dependent child
receiving a benefit transferred pursuant to subsection d. of this section shall
be eligible to receive up to eight credits per semester tuition-free at a
public institution of higher education.

(cf: P.L.2009. c.208, s.1)

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

STATEMENT

���� This
bill permits a member of the New Jersey National Guard to transfer a certain
tuition benefit to the member�s spouse or child.�

���� Under current law, any member
of the New Jersey National Guard is permitted to attend courses at any public
institution of higher education and receive up to 16 credits per semester
tuition-free provided that the member has:

���� (1)�� completed Initial Active
Duty Training and is in good standing as an active member of the New Jersey
National Guard;

���� (2)�� been accepted to pursue
a course of undergraduate study and is enrolled as an undergraduate student in
good standing at that institution or a course of graduate study and is enrolled
as a graduate student in good standing at that institution;

���� (3)�� applied for all
available State student grants and scholarships and all available federal
student grants and scholarships for which the member is eligible; and

���� (4)�� applied for certain
federal tuition benefits available through the United States Department of
Veterans Affairs.

���� The bill permits any member of
the New Jersey National Guard, who is eligible for the tuition benefit
available under current law, to transfer the benefit to a spouse or dependent
child, provided that the spouse or child:

���� (1)�� has been accepted to
pursue a course of undergraduate study and is enrolled as an undergraduate
student in good standing at that institution or a course of graduate study and
is enrolled as a graduate student in good standing at that institution; and�

���� (2)�� has applied for all
available State student grants and scholarships and all available federal
student grants and scholarships for which the spouse or child is eligible.�

���� The bill provides that a
member may only transfer the benefit to one person.

���� Under the bill, a spouse
receiving a transferred tuition benefit is eligible to receive up to 16 credits
per semester tuition-free at a public institution of higher education.� The
bill further provides that a dependent child receiving a transferred tuition
benefit is eligible to receive up to eight credits per semester tuition-free.