NJ S3300

Former law enforcement officers who retired due to disability would be eligible for tuition-free education at New Jersey public colleges and universities or licensed proprietary institutions offering academic degrees, up to 16 credits per semester.

Officers must have retired in good standing after at least four years of full-time law enforcement service and retired under specific disability statutes (C.43:16A-6, C.43:16A-7, or C.43:16A-6.1) or equivalent federal disability retirement provisions.

Eligible recipients must be enrolled in good standing as undergraduate or graduate students and must first apply for all available state and federal student grants and scholarships.

The state would reimburse institutions for tuition costs not covered by grants and scholarships the retired officer receives.

The bill mirrors existing tuition benefits provided to New Jersey National Guard members under P.L.1999, c.46, extending similar educational support to disability-retired law enforcement officers.