NJ A4812

Establishes a 13-member Task Force on Higher Education Governance and Funding to examine New Jersey's higher education system organization, governance, and funding mechanisms

Task force members include the Secretary of Higher Education, HESAA Executive Director, gubernatorial appointees representing public research universities, state colleges, county colleges, independent institutions, and labor unions, plus legislative appointees with higher education expertise

Requires the task force to analyze State funding mechanisms, regulatory requirements, institutional mission alignment, workforce needs, and the effects of governance changes since the Department of Higher Education was abolished in 1994

Directs the task force to identify best practices from other states regarding annual operating support, capital budgeting, fringe benefits funding, and barriers to cost-saving collaboration among institutions

Appropriates $200,000 from the General Fund to the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education for task force operations, including hiring subject matter experts; final report due within one year of organization