LEGISLATIVE FISCAL ESTIMATE

SENATE, No. 2553

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

219th LEGISLATURE

 

DATED: NOVEMBER 2, 2020

 

 

SUMMARY

 

Synopsis:

Provides in-State tuition status to certain veterans and family members who attend public institutions of higher education during period of mandatory remote instruction due to public health emergencies.

Type of Impact:

Revenue loss to public institutions of higher education.

Agencies Affected:

Public institutions of higher education.  

 

 

Office of Legislative Services Estimate

Fiscal Impact

Periods of Remote Instruction due to Public Health Emergencies

 

Revenue Loss to Public Institutions of Higher Education

Indeterminate

 

 

 

 

·         The Office of Legislative Services (OLS) concludes that this bill would result in an indeterminate loss in tuition revenue to public institutions of higher education to the extent that veterans or covered individuals, who may otherwise be charged the nonresident tuition rate while they are living outside of New Jersey during a period of mandatory remote instruction, would be charged the in-State tuition rate under the bill.

 

 

BILL DESCRIPTION

 

      This bill amends the “New Jersey Tuition Equality for America’s Military (NJTEAM) Act” to allow veterans and covered individuals to continue to pay in-State tuition during any period of mandatory remote instruction due to a public health emergency, even if they are living outside of the State during the period of remote instruction. This would allow those who benefit from the provisions of the NJTEAM Act to continue to receive in-State tuition if they are temporarily out-of-State due to a public health emergency. 

      Currently, under the NJTEAM Act, a veteran or other “covered individual” who qualifies for certain federal educational assistance, resides in New Jersey, and attends a public institution of higher education is considered to be a State resident for tuition purposes and thereby eligible to pay an in-State tuition rate regardless of the individual’s state of residence. 

FISCAL ANALYSIS

 

EXECUTIVE BRANCH

 

      None received.

 

OFFICE OF LEGISLATIVE SERVICES

 

      The OLS concludes that this bill would result in an indeterminate loss in tuition revenue to public institutions of higher education to the extent that veterans or covered individuals, who are attending the institutions, are living outside of New Jersey during a period of remote instruction caused by a public health emergency.  These veterans and covered individuals, who may otherwise be charged the nonresident tuition rate while they are not living in the State, would be charged the in-State tuition rate under this bill. 

      The OLS has insufficient information to determine the number and enrollment status of veterans and covered individuals who are residing outside of New Jersey and are currently completing coursework through remote instruction due to the current public health emergency.  However, the OLS notes that, in the 2018-2019 academic year, there were approximately 5,200 students at public institutions of higher education in New Jersey who received benefits under the federal Post-9/11 GI Bill.  In calendar year 2019, there were approximately 7,100 GI Bill students at public institutions of higher education in the State. 

      The OLS further notes that the average annual full-time, in-district tuition rate at the county colleges was $4,209 in the 2019-2020 academic year and the average annual full-time, in-State tuition rate at the county colleges was $6,355.  The average annual full-time, out-of-State tuition rate at those institutions was $8,161.  The average annual full-time, in-State tuition rate for undergraduates at the senior public institutions of higher education in the 2019-2020 academic year was $11,715.  Meanwhile, the out-of-State tuition rate was $21,394. 

 

 

Section:

Education

Analyst:

Christopher Myles

Associate Fiscal Analyst

Approved:

Frank W. Haines III

Legislative Budget and Finance Officer

 

 

This legislative fiscal estimate has been produced by the Office of Legislative Services due to the failure of the Executive Branch to respond to our request for a fiscal note.

 

This fiscal estimate has been prepared pursuant to P.L.1980, c.67 (C.52:13B-6 et seq.).