38A:22-4. a. As used in this section: "Approved course of study" means any curriculum or any combination of unit courses or subjects pursued at an educational institution which is accepted for Veteran's Educational Assistance pursuant to federal law. "Approved educational institution" means (1) any academic, professional, or vocational school operating within this State; (2) any graduate level school operating within the United States; or (3) any academic, professional, or vocational school operating outside of this State, provided that the institution shall have made a prior written agreement to accept the tuition credit and reimbursement provided for in this section and provided, further, that no more than 20% of the eligible veterans under subparagraphs (2) and (3) of this paragraph shall attend an approved educational institution operating outside of this State. To qualify as an "approved educational institution" under this section, an institution shall have been approved for Veteran's Educational Assistance pursuant to federal law. "Eligible veteran" means any veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States residing in New Jersey who is or was eligible for Veteran's Educational Assistance pursuant to federal law and who (1) was domiciled in New Jersey at the time of induction into the Armed Forces or (2) has been domiciled in New Jersey for a period of not less than 12 consecutive months prior to the date of application, exclusive of any time spent on active duty. b. For the purposes of this section: An institutional trade or technical course offered at a nonaccredited school on a clock-hour basis involving shop practice as an integral part thereof shall be considered a full-time course when a minimum of 30 hours per week of attendance is required with no more than two and one-half hours of rest periods per week and no more than three hours of supervised study per week allowed; An institutional course offered at a nonaccredited school on a clock-hour basis in which theoretical or classroom instruction predominates shall be considered a full-time course when a minimum of 25 hours per week net of instruction, which may include customary intervals not to exceed 10 minutes between hours of instruction, is required and no more than three hours of supervised study per week is allowed; An institutional trade or technical course offered at an accredited school on a clock-hour basis which leads to a standard trade or technical degree and involves shop practice as an integral part thereof shall be considered a full-time course when a minimum of 22 hours per week of attendance is required with no more than two and one-half hours of rest periods per week and no more than three hours of supervised study per week allowed; An institutional course offered at an accredited school on a clock-hour basis which leads to a standard trade or technical degree in which theoretical or classroom instruction predominates shall be considered a full-time course when a minimum of 18 hours per week of instruction, which may include customary intervals not to exceed 10 minutes between hours of instruction, is required and no more than two and one-half hours of supervised study is allowed; An academic high school course requiring 16 units for a full course shall be considered a full-time course when a minimum of four units per year is required, with a unit defined to be not less than 120 60-minute hours or their equivalent of study in any subject in one academic year; and An institutional undergraduate course offered by a college or university on a quarter- or semester-hour basis shall be considered a full-time course when a minimum of 14 semester hours or the equivalent thereof, for which credit is granted toward a standard college degree, including those for which no credit is granted but which are required to be taken to correct an educational deficiency, is required, except that when the college or university certifies, upon the request of the department, that (1) full-time tuition is charged to all undergraduate students carrying a minimum of less than 14 semester hours or the equivalent thereof or (2) all undergraduate students carrying a minimum of less than 14 semester hours or the equivalent thereof are considered to be pursuing a full-time course for other administrative purposes, then such an institutional undergraduate course offered by the college or university with the minimum number of semester hours shall be considered a full-time course. In the event the minimum number of semester hours is less than 12 semester hours or the equivalent thereof, less than 12 semester hours or the equivalent thereof shall be considered a full-time course. Each eligible veteran may select an approved course of study at any approved educational institution selected by the veteran, which will accept and retain the veteran as a student or trainee in any field or branch of knowledge which the institution finds him or her qualified to undertake or pursue. c. Any eligible veteran who desires tuition credit pursuant to this section, within eight years from the date of (a) separation from active duty or (b) March 3, 1976, whichever is later, shall submit an application to the Department of Veterans Affairs which shall be in a form and contain information as the department shall prescribe. The department shall approve the application unless it finds that the veteran is ineligible for or not entitled to tuition credit, that the veteran's course of study is not approved pursuant to this section, or that the veteran has already been approved. The department shall notify the veteran and the veteran's selected educational institution of the approval of the application. d. Each eligible veteran shall be entitled to tuition credit pursuant to this section in accordance with the following schedule: (1) For a period of one semester, or the equivalent thereof in part-time tuition credit, in the case of educational institutions regularly operated on the semester system, for each three months or fraction thereof of the veteran's service on active duty after December 31, 1960 and before May 7, 1975. If an eligible veteran has served a period of 18 months or more on active duty during such period of time, the veteran shall be entitled to tuition credit pursuant to this section for a period of eight semesters or the equivalent thereof in part-time tuition credit. The maximum credit hereunder shall be for a period of eight semesters; (2) For a period of one-quarter, or the equivalent thereof in part-time tuition credit, in the case of educational institutions regularly operated on the quarter system, for each two months or fraction thereof of the veteran's service on active duty after December 31, 1960 and before May 7, 1975. If an eligible veteran has served a period of 18 months or more on active duty during that period of time, the veteran shall be entitled to tuition credit pursuant to this section for a period of 12 quarters. The maximum credit hereunder shall be for a period of 12 quarters; or (3) For a period of one and one-half months of any tuition period, or the equivalent thereof in part-time tuition credit, in the case of educational institutions not operated on the quarter or semester system, for each month or fraction thereof of the veteran's service on active duty after December 31, 1960 and before May 7, 1975. If an eligible veteran has served a period of 18 months or more on active duty during that period of time, the veteran shall be entitled to tuition credit pursuant to this section for 36 months of tuition credit or the equivalent thereof in part-time tuition credit. The maximum credit hereunder shall be for a period of 36 months. e. If an eligible veteran shall change the veteran's program of study from an educational institution regularly operated on the quarter or semester system, or otherwise, to an educational institution regularly operated on a different system, the remainder of the credit shall accordingly be redistributed by the department in such manner as to carry out the intent of this section. f. Benefits hereunder shall be in the form of tuition credits limited by the lesser of full tuition or for: (1) educational institutions regularly operated on the semester system, $200 per semester. (2) educational institutions regularly operated on the quarter system, $100 per quarter. (3) educational institutions not regularly operated on the semester or quarter system, $400 per full school year prorated on an equal basis as the Department of Veterans Affairs shall determine. For veterans pursuing a program of part-time education, the tuition credit shall be in such amounts as the department shall determine. These veterans shall be eligible to receive awards during summer terms, provided that the total award during the period from September 1 to August 31 of any academic year does not exceed the amount of assistance a full-time student at the same institution would receive. g. Reimbursement for tuition credit shall be made by the State Treasurer to the approved educational institution upon certification by the institution that the veteran is enrolled for the current period and upon certification by the Department of Veterans Affairs that the veteran is both eligible and entitled to tuition credit hereunder subject to the provisions of this section. Reimbursement for tuition credit shall be made out of funds accumulated from the State Lottery. h. Any benefits granted to eligible veterans pursuant to this section shall not be considered income or an asset in determining financial need for any financial assistance for higher education provided pursuant to Title 18A of the New Jersey Statutes. i. In the event that the amount appropriated in any fiscal year is insufficient to carry out in full the provisions of this section, the department shall apportion the amount among the eligible veterans applying for tuition credit in proportion to the amount each veteran would be allocated if the full amount were appropriated. L.2025, c.139, s.46.
