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Bill

A 5336

Establishes New Jersey County College Remissible Student Loan Program; appropriates $1 million.

2024-2025 Regular Session Introduced by Jessica Ramirez

New Jersey establishes a $1 million county college student loan forgiveness program to remit educational debt for eligible community college students.

Introduced in the Assembly, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee
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Bill Summary · A 5336

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 5336 establishes a new student loan forgiveness program specifically for New Jersey county college students and appropriates $1 million in initial funding. The program would allow eligible students attending New Jersey's community college system to have portions of their educational loans remitted (forgiven) under criteria to be determined by the program's administration.

Why is this important

Student debt is a significant barrier to economic mobility, and community college students often face particular financial hardship. This program could increase college completion rates and reduce financial burden for lower-income students who typically attend county colleges, though the $1 million allocation would serve a limited number of borrowers.

Potential points of contention

  • Funding adequacy: $1 million is a modest appropriation that would only assist a small fraction of New Jersey county college students carrying debt; questions may arise about whether this justifies program overhead and administrative costs
  • Eligibility criteria undefined: The bill doesn't specify which students qualify (income limits, grade requirements, field of study, loan types), creating uncertainty about fairness and program design
  • Precedent and equity concerns: Critics may question why community college students receive priority over four-year university students, or whether loan forgiveness represents sound fiscal policy versus targeted tuition/aid reforms

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

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