ASSEMBLY COMMERCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 4152

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 22, 2023

The Assembly Commerce and Economic Development Committee reports favorably Assembly Bill No. 4152.

This bill establishes a financial aid program in the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority (HESAA). The program would cover the remaining tuition costs associated with the student’s enrollment in a remedial or developmental course, in the event that the student has outstanding tuition costs related to the remedial or developmental course after the prior application of all other grants and scholarships for which the student is eligible. Under the bill, a student would be eligible for aid if the remedial or developmental course in which the student is enrolled is necessary as part of the completion of the academic program of study in which the student is enrolled.

     A student would be eligible for a financial aid award under the program if the student:

· is a resident of the State or is otherwise eligible for State financial aid pursuant to current State law permitting certain students without lawful immigration status to receive State financial aid;

· graduated high school from a public high school located in an eligible urban school district;

· is enrolled in a remedial or developmental course that is necessary as part of the completion of the academic program of study in which the student is enrolled;

· is enrolled in at least six credits in the semester in which the student is seeking aid at an eligible institution;

· applied for all other available forms of State, federal, and institutional need-based grants and merit scholarships and, in accordance with annually established deadline dates, have completed and submitted a Free Application for Federal Student Aid, other financial aid form, or, as applicable, a State financial aid form as required by the HESAA pursuant to the law permitting certain students without lawful immigration status to receive State financial aid; 

· does not owe a refund on a grant or scholarship previously received from a State or federal program through any institution or is not in default on any loan made under any State or federal student loan program at any institution, unless the student makes arrangements with the HESAA to repay the debt; and

· is in good academic standing and meet the minimum standards for academic performance and satisfactory academic progress as defined by the eligible institution of higher education which the student is attending.

     Under the bill, a student would be eligible for a financial aid award for a maximum of 30 credits and would only be eligible for a financial aid award during a fall or spring semester in an academic year.