ASSEMBLY LABOR COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

ASSEMBLY, No. 513

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  FEBRUARY 5, 2024

      The Assembly Labor Committee reports favorably and with committee amendments Assembly Bill No. 513.

      As amended, this bill requires public institutions of higher education to waive the tuition fees of certain courses which are qualified to serve as the classroom training or education component of a registered apprenticeship for eligible persons whose gross aggregate household income is below the State’s median annual income.

      Under the bill, an eligible person is an individual whose gross aggregate household income at the time of admission to a New Jersey public institution of higher education or county vocational school is below the State household median income as determined by the United States Census Bureau American Community Survey.  The person is to be deemed eligible for a tuition fee waiver if:

      1.   tuition costs are not covered by the employer through employment benefits;

      2.   the person completes a Free Application for Federal Student Aid each year and has exhausted all financial aid assistance; and

      3.   the person retains employment as an active registered apprentice under the registered apprenticeship program and maintains satisfactory academic progress to qualify for renewal of the tuition waiver.

      As amended, the State will provide funding to a public institution of higher education or county vocational school for the tuition cost of each eligible person who enrolls in the institution pursuant to the provisions of the bill with any available funds provided to the State under the Wagner-Peyser Act, or from funds that may be available from the Workforce Development Partnership Fund which was appropriated pursuant to the annual appropriations act for State fiscal year 2024.

      This bill was prefiled for introduction in the 2024-2025 session pending technical review.  As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.

COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS:

      The committee amended the bill to update the funding to reflect the current fiscal year.