ASSEMBLY, No. 3546
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
INTRODUCED DECEMBER 6, 2012
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman CELESTE M. RILEY
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Assemblyman JOHN J. BURZICHELLI
District 3 (Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem)
Assemblywoman PAMELA R. LAMPITT
District 6 (Burlington and Camden)
Assemblyman JOHN DIMAIO
District 23 (Hunterdon, Somerset and Warren)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywomen Angelini, Mosquera, Assemblymen Rumana, Caputo and Assemblywoman Sumter
SYNOPSIS
Eliminates requirement that full-time students at a county college in New Jersey maintain health insurance coverage.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As amended by the General Assembly on February 21 , 2013.
An Act concerning health insurance coverage for students at institutions of higher education and amending 1and supplementing1 P.L.1991, c.187.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 77 of P.L.1991, c.187 (C.18A:62-15) is amended to read as follows:
77. a. [Every student enrolled as a full-time student at a public or private institution of higher education in this State shall maintain health insurance coverage which provides basic hospital benefits. The coverage shall be maintained throughout the period of the student's enrollment.
b. Every student enrolled as a full-time student shall present evidence of the health insurance coverage required by subsection a. of this section to the institution at least annually, in a manner prescribed by the institution.
c.] 1Every student enrolled as a full-time student at a public or private institution of higher education in this State, other than a county college, shall maintain health insurance coverage that meets the essential health benefits requirements of the federal “Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act,” Pub.L.111-148, as amended by the federal “Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010,” Pub.L.111-152. The coverage shall be maintained throughout the period of the student's enrollment.
b. Every student enrolled as a full-time student at a public or private institution of higher education in this State, other than a county college, shall present evidence of the health insurance coverage required by subsection a. of this section to the institution at least annually, in a manner prescribed by the institution.
c.1 The 1[State]1 Department of Health shall require all public and private institutions of higher education in this State to offer health insurance coverage on a group or individual basis for purchase by students who are [required to maintain the coverage pursuant to this section] enrolled full-time at the institution.
[d.] 1[b.] d.1 The Commissioner of Health shall adopt rules and regulations pursuant to the "Administrative Procedure Act," P.L.1968, c.410 (C.52:14B-1 et seq.)1,1 to carry out the purposes of [subsections a., b. and c.] 1[subsection a.] subsections a., b., and c.1 of this section.
[e. The Student Assistance Board in but not
of the Department of the Treasury shall adopt rules and regulations to require
that a
public or private institution of higher education in this State consider the
coverage required pursuant to this section as an educational cost for purposes
of determining a student's eligibility for financial aid.
f. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit a hospital in this State to deny access to hospital care to a full-time student whose health insurance coverage required by this section lapses for any reason.
g. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person who is a participant in the REACH program established pursuant to P.L.1987, c.282 (C.44:10-9 et seq.).]
1e. The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority shall adopt rules and regulations to require that a public or private institution of higher education in this State consider the coverage required pursuant to this section as an educational cost for purposes of determining a student's eligibility for financial aid.
f. Nothing in this section shall be construed to permit a hospital in this State to deny access to hospital care to a full-time student whose health insurance coverage required by this section lapses for any reason.
g. The provisions of this section shall not apply to a person who is a participant in the Work First New Jersey program established pursuant to P.L.1997, c.38 (C.44:10-55 et seq.).1
(cf: P.L.1994, c.48, s.87)
12. (New section) Nothing in section 77 of P.L.1991, c.187 (C.18A:62-15) shall be construed to preclude a county college from requiring a full-time student to present evidence of health insurance coverage to the institution at least annually, in a manner prescribed by the institution.1
13. (New section) Each public and private institution of higher education shall collect data on the percentage of full-time students enrolled in the institution who have health insurance coverage and on the source of the coverage, and shall annually forward the data to the Secretary of Higher Education.1
1[2.] 4.1 This act shall take effect immediately.