18A:71B-21 Amount of grant; reduction of award.

18A:71B-21. Amount of Grant; Reduction of Award.

a. The amount of a tuition aid grant awarded under this article to any student attending an eligible institution shall be established by the authority, but shall not exceed the maximum amount of tuition normally charged at a public institution of higher education for students attending that institution or 50% of the average tuition normally charged at the independent institutions of higher education for students attending those institutions. The amount of a State tuition aid grant awarded under this act to any student attending an institution of higher education in any state other than New Jersey pursuant to this section shall not exceed $500 in an academic year. The amount of grant to be paid for each semester or its equivalent shall be based on the financial need for the grant, as determined by standards and procedures established by the authority, and subject to the amount of appropriations available therefor.

b. Appropriations for each program category of tuition aid grants shall be separately made by line item.

c. State tuition aid grants shall be awarded by the authority to all eligible applicants without any limitation on the number to be awarded in any year other than the amount of appropriations available therefor. In the event that the amount appropriated is insufficient for full awards to all eligible applicants, the authority, in consultation with the Commission on Higher Education, shall reduce awards equitably among eligible students according to such procedures and guidelines as it shall establish. Any revisions of procedures and guidelines in effect as of the effective date of this act shall be submitted on or before March 1 of the prebudget year by the executive director of the authority to the Joint Budget Oversight Committee of the Legislature, or its successor, together with supporting information. The revised criteria and guidelines may be approved or disapproved by the Joint Budget Oversight Committee, or its successor, at any time; provided that if at the end of a 60-calendar day period after the date on which the revisions are transmitted to the committee, the committee has taken no action, the proposed revised criteria and guidelines shall be deemed to be approved by the committee.

L.1999,c.46,s.1.