NJ A5923

Authorizes governing boards of public higher education institutions to merge or consolidate with other higher education institutions or degree-granting proprietary institutions, assuming all rights, privileges, debts, and liabilities of merged entities

Requires a two-step approval process: first, each institution's governing board must adopt a resolution, then submit a joint application to the Secretary of Higher Education for preliminary approval within 30 days

Mandates participating institutions develop a comprehensive merger plan reviewed by the Secretary, who assesses need, best interests of students/faculty/staff/communities, and may hold public hearings with costs borne by the institutions

Requires legislative approval through a 90-day review period after the Secretary certifies the merger; if no concurrent resolution of disapproval is adopted, the merger is automatically authorized

Exempts Rutgers, the State University from the bill's requirements, though other institutions seeking to merge with Rutgers must comply; also exempts mergers where letters of intent were executed before the bill's effective date