Bill Text: NJ S3213 | 2024-2025 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Prohibits institution of higher education from establishing scholarship fund or student assistance program limited to students who are citizens or permanent residents of country or territory controlled by terrorist organization.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 2-0)
Status: (Introduced) 2024-05-13 - Introduced in the Senate, Referred to Senate Higher Education Committee [S3213 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2024-S3213-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Senator ROBERT W. SINGER
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator O'Scanlon
SYNOPSIS
Prohibits institution of higher education from establishing scholarship fund or student assistance program limited to students who are citizens or permanent residents of country or territory controlled by terrorist organization.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning institutional scholarships and financial aid and supplementing Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes.
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. An institution of higher education shall not establish any scholarship fund or student assistance program that is only available to students enrolled in the institution who are citizens or permanent residents of a country or territory that is controlled by a foreign terrorist organization as designated by the United States Secretary of State pursuant to 8 U.S.C. s.1189.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of any other law to the contrary, an institution that violates the provisions of this section shall be prohibited from receiving:
(1) State operating aid;
(2) the proceeds of State-supported revenue bonds that are issued by the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority;
(3) the proceeds of State general obligation bonds; or
(4) funds awarded to a student enrolled in the institution and distributed through any State student assistance or scholarship program administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill prohibits an institution of higher education from establishing a scholarship fund or student assistance program that is only available to students enrolled in the institution who are citizens or permanent residents of a country or territory that is controlled by a foreign terrorist organization, as designated by the United States Secretary of State.
An institution that violates the provisions of the bill is prohibited from receiving: State operating aid; the proceeds of State-supported revenue bonds that are issued by the New Jersey Educational Facilities Authority; the proceeds of State general obligation bonds; or funds awarded to a student enrolled in the institution and distributed through any State student assistance or scholarship program administered by the Higher Education Student Assistance Authority.
The bill is in response to encampments on the lawns of Voorhees Mall at Rutgers University-New Brunswick by students demanding various actions from the institution in response to the Israel-Hamas conflict. One of the demands requested by the students was, "the acceptance of at least 10 displaced Gazan students to study at Rutgers University on scholarship." The institution reached an agreement with the student group, agreeing to meet 8 out of 10 of the demands, including the acceptance of the Gazan students, in return for an end to the encampment.
