Bill Text: NJ A3807 | 2020-2021 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Establishes certain rights for students with military obligations attending public institutions of higher education and permits late registration for students with military obligations.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 9-5)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2021-05-20 - Substituted by S278 (1R) [A3807 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2020-A3807-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman NANCY J. PINKIN
District 18 (Middlesex)
SYNOPSIS
Establishes certain rights for students with military obligations attending public institutions of higher education and permits late registration for students with military obligations.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning access to higher education for veterans and members of the military, amending P.L.1997, c.377, and supplementing chapter 62 of Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. Section 1 of P.L.1997, c.377 (C.18A:62-4.2) is amended to read as follows:
1. a. A student at a New Jersey public institution of higher education who is unable to complete a course [because the student is 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] due to deployment, mobilization, reassignment, or other military obligation as a service member shall be entitled to the options set forth in this section with respect to the student's grade for the course.
b. A student who has completed at least eight weeks of attendance in a course may choose to:
(1) receive a letter grade; or
(2) receive a grade of pass or fail; or
(3) receive a grade of incomplete; or
(4) withdraw from the course.
c. A student who has completed less than eight weeks of attendance in a course may choose to:
(1) receive a grade of incomplete; or
(2) withdraw from the course.
d. A letter grade or a grade of pass shall only be awarded if, in the opinion of the faculty member teaching the course, the student has completed sufficient work, and there is sufficient evidence of progress toward meeting the requirements of the course, to justify the grade.
e. A grade of incomplete shall remain valid for a period of one year after the student returns to the New Jersey public institution of higher education.
f. A student who chooses to accept a grade of pass or fail may, within one year after returning to the New Jersey public institution of higher education, receive a letter grade for the course by completing the work required for the course, in which case the letter grade shall replace the pass or fail grade as the student's grade for the course.
g. A student who chooses to withdraw from a course shall receive a full refund of tuition and fees attributable to that course.
h. A student who has paid amounts for room, board or fees shall, except as provided in subsection g. of this section, receive a refund of that portion of those amounts attributable to the time period during which the student did not use the services for which payment was made.
i. Any refund payable to a student who is a financial aid recipient shall be subject to the applicable State and federal regulations regarding refunds.
j. As used in this section, "service member" means an individual who is serving as a member of a Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, or as a member of the National Guard, or on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States.
(cf: P.L.1997, c.377, s.1)
2. (New section) a. As used in this section:
"Service member" means an individual who is serving as a member of a Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, or as a member of the National Guard , or on active duty as a member of the Armed Forces of the United States.
"Veteran" means an individual who served as a member of a Reserve component of the Armed Forces of the United States, or as a member of the National Guard, or on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, and who was honorably discharged or released under honorable circumstances from active service.
b. Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, each public institution of higher education shall 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. The institution shall not charge a late fee or similar penalty on a registration submitted pursuant to this subsection.
Nothing in this subsection shall be construed to require any public institution of higher education to admit a student or to waive its admission standards.
3. This act shall take effect immediately and shall first apply to the first full academic year following the date of enactment.
STATEMENT
P.L.1997, c.377 (C.18A:62-4.2) 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. As amended, 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.
