Bill Text: NJ A4165 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Amended
Bill Title: Eliminates requirement that every full-time student at an institution of higher education in New Jersey maintain health insurance coverage.*
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2013-06-17 - Reported out of Assembly Comm. with Amendments, 2nd Reading [A4165 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-A4165-Amended.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman BENJIE E. WIMBERLY
District 35 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman CHRISTOPHER J. BROWN
District 8 (Atlantic, Burlington and Camden)
SYNOPSIS
Eliminates requirement that every full-time student at an institution of higher education in New Jersey maintain health insurance coverage.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As reported by the Assembly Budget Committee on June 17, 2013, with amendments.
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. 1[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.]1 The [State] Department of Health shall require all [public and private institutions of higher education] 1[county colleges] public and private institutions of higher education1 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 1[county colleges] institution1.
1[d.] b.1 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 1[subsections a., b. and c.] subsection a.1 of this section.
1[e.]1 [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.).] 1[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.).]1
(cf: P.L.1994, c.48, s.87)
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
