Bill Text: NJ S2802 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Eliminates requirement that every full-time student at a four-year institution of higher education in New Jersey maintain health insurance coverage.
Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 4-1)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-05-13 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee [S2802 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-S2802-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator RONALD L. RICE
District 28 (Essex)
Senator SANDRA B. CUNNINGHAM
District 31 (Hudson)
Senator ROBERT W. SINGER
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senators Ruiz and Turner
SYNOPSIS
Eliminates requirement that every full-time student at a four-year institution of higher education in New Jersey maintain health insurance coverage.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning health insurance coverage for students at institutions of higher education and amending 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] county college 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 at 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. The [State] Department of Health shall require all [public and private institutions of higher education] county colleges 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 county colleges.
d. 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.), to carry out the purposes of subsections a., b. and c. 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.).] The Higher Education Student Assistance Authority shall adopt rules and regulations to require that a county college 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.).
(cf: P.L.1994, c.48, s.87)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill amends current law to eliminate the requirement that every student who is enrolled full-time at a four-year public or private institution of higher education in New Jersey maintain health insurance coverage which provides basic hospital benefits. Under the bill, only students who are enrolled full-time at a county college would be required to maintain such coverage. Any requirements for health insurance coverage imposed at the federal level by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) would still be applicable.
