ASSEMBLY MILITARY AND VETERANS' AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

[First Reprint]

SENATE, No. 278

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  OCTOBER 8, 2020

      The Assembly Military and Veterans’ Affairs Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 278 (1R).

      New Jersey law currently provides that a student at a public institution of higher education who is unable to complete a course due to being called to partial or full mobilization for State or federal active duty as a member of the National Guard or a Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States is entitled to certain options with respect to the student’s grade for the course, and for the refund of tuition, fees, and room and board.  This bill broadens the scope of the law to benefit a wider military community that includes service members who are unable to complete a course due to deployment, mobilization, reassignment, or other military obligation. 

      Under the bill, “service member” means an individual who is serving on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States, or as a member of a Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard. A “veteran” is defined as an individual who served on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, or who served as a member of a Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States or the National Guard, and who was honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service.

      The bill also directs each public institution of higher education to establish policies and procedures to permit the late registration of a student who is a veteran or a service member upon the student’s return from deployment, mobilization, reassignment, or other military obligation.  Under the bill, the institution cannot charge a late fee or similar penalty on a registration submitted pursuant to the bill’s provisions.

     Senate Bill No. 278 (1R) is identical to Assembly Bill No. 3807 of 2020-2021.