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Bill

A 1293

Provides that former law enforcement officers who retired due to disability are eligible to receive tuition assistance to attend public institution of higher education or proprietary institution licensed to confer academic degrees.

2026-2027 Regular Session Introduced by Cody Miller and 1 co-sponsor

New Jersey bill extends tuition assistance to law enforcement officers retired due to disability, enabling access to higher education at public and accredited private institutions.

Introduced, Referred to Assembly Higher Education Committee
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Bill Summary · A 1293

Legislative bill overview

Bill A 1293 expands tuition assistance eligibility to include former law enforcement officers who retired due to disability. Currently, such officers may lack access to educational benefits available to other populations. The bill specifically covers attendance at public institutions of higher education or accredited proprietary institutions in New Jersey.

Why is this important

Law enforcement officers who become disabled often face career-ending injuries or conditions, potentially leaving them without income support during career transitions. Access to tuition assistance could facilitate retraining and new career paths, reducing long-term dependency on disability benefits. This directly affects a vulnerable population's economic mobility and quality of life.

Potential points of contention

  • Fiscal impact: The bill does not specify funding mechanisms or appropriation amounts, raising questions about program costs and whether existing education budgets will be stretched
  • Eligibility scope: "Retired due to disability" lacks precise definition—unclear whether all disability retirements qualify or only service-connected disabilities, potentially creating disputes over who benefits
  • Means-testing: The bill contains no apparent income or asset limits, meaning even wealthy disabled officers would qualify, which some may view as inefficient use of public resources

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

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