New JerseyChildren and spouses would qualify for tuition aid after public safety worker suicides
New Jersey would extend state-paid college tuition to children and surviving spouses of certain public safety workers who die by suicide, if they meet enrollment rules.
What it does
Children and surviving spouses of covered public safety workers who die by suicide would qualify for state-paid college tuition in New Jersey. Students must be accepted into an undergraduate program and stay in good standing; payments at private colleges have a cap.
Argument forThis could help a worker’s child or surviving spouse afford college after a suicide if they meet the program’s enrollment rules.
Argument againstCovering more families could raise state tuition spending, especially when eligible students attend public colleges, where the state pays full tuition.
More detail
New Jersey would extend state-paid undergraduate tuition to eligible children and surviving spouses when a covered worker dies by suicide. The worker must serve in a listed fire, rescue, or police role, or hold another specified state or local job. Students must be accepted into a New Jersey undergraduate program and remain in good standing. The state would pay full tuition at a public college, but would cap payment at a private college at the highest tuition charged by a New Jersey public college. A child may use the aid for eight years after high school graduation; a surviving spouse has no time limit.
Where do you stand?
Choose your position
Tell your reps
Take a position to see your representatives and ways to contact them.
Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed 1st Chamber
- Passed 2nd Chamber
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- Sep 17Introduced, Referred to Assembly Public Safety and Preparedness CommitteeIntroduced
EducationPublic Safety