SENATE HIGHER EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 2208

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED:  MARCH 4, 2024

      The Senate Higher Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 2208.

      This bill requires the Secretary of Higher Education to create and maintain a database of Educational Opportunity Fund (EOF) student admissions.  The database is to detail the number of student openings in the EOF programs of each participating institution which are available for an eligible student.  The database is to be made available to campus EOF directors in order to improve communication about potential placements between campus directors and eligible students.  The bill provides that in the event that an eligible student has not secured a placement in an EOF program of a participating institution, the campus EOF director is required to provide that student with information about student openings in the EOF programs of other participating institutions.

      Under the bill, each participating institution is required to notify the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education when a student opening in an EOF program is filled.  The bill requires the office to update the database within one business day of receiving the notification.

      This bill was pre-filed 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.