SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 807

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  JUNE 23, 2020

     The Senate Higher Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 807.

     The cost of attendance at an institution of higher education is calculated by each institution using elements set forth in federal law at 20 U.S.C. s.1087ll.  In addition to expenses such as tuition, fees, and room and board, the cost of attendance may include an allowance, known as a “dependent care allowance,” for students who have one or more dependents and who incur expenses for those dependents’ care while attending the institution of higher education.  Being eligible for a dependent care allowance increases the student’s total cost of attendance, which could make the student eligible for additional financial aid dollars.

     This bill seeks to increase awareness of the dependent care allowance so that more student parents may take advantage of additional financial aid while attending an institution of higher education.  The bill would require that information on the availability of, the procedures for requesting, and, if feasible, an estimate of the amount of the allowance be provided on the financial aid shopping sheet given to a prospective student who has one or more dependents.  The bill would also require an institution of higher education or a proprietary institution licensed to offer academic degrees to post on its Internet website information concerning the availability of and the procedures for requesting the dependent care allowance.  Lastly, the bill requires an institution to provide with all paper applications for admission a hard copy of information regarding the dependent care allowance. 

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 2020-2021 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.