New Jersey 2024-2025 Regular Session

New Jersey Senate Bill S3676

Introduced
9/30/24  

Caption

Requires public institution of higher education to provide alternative scholarship to student-athlete who loses athletic scholarship due to injury.

Impact

The bill aims to create a safety net for student-athletes, mitigating the financial impact of losing their scholarships when injuries occur during their athletic participation. By defining incapacitating injury or illness specifically, the bill ensures that only those injuries deemed medically serious will activate this provision. This approach could encourage institutions to handle such situations with greater empathy and responsibility, thus fostering a more supportive environment for athletes.

Summary

Senate Bill 3676 seeks to protect student-athletes enrolled in public institutions of higher education by mandating that if they lose their athletic scholarships due to an incapacitating injury or illness, they will be granted an alternative scholarship of equal value. This alternative scholarship must continue for the duration of their undergraduate program or up to five years, whichever is shorter. The legislation is designed to provide financial security for athletes whose injuries jeopardize their academic pursuits.

Contention

Although the bill does aim to provide necessary support for affected student-athletes, it might face scrutiny regarding the logistics of implementation, such as how institutions will manage these scholarships financially. Stakeholders may debate the adequacy of existing financial resources and whether schools can afford to provide these substitute scholarships long-term, thereby raising questions about sustainability in athletics funding at public institutions.

Companion Bills

NJ A4711

Same As Requires public institution of higher education to provide alternative scholarship to student-athlete who loses athletic scholarship due to injury.

Previously Filed As

NJ S3296

Requires public institution of higher education to provide alternative scholarship to student-athlete who loses athletic scholarship due to injury.

NJ A450

Requires public institution of higher education to provide alternative scholarship to student-athlete who loses athletic scholarship due to injury.

NJ A2970

Requires public institutions of higher education to provide student-athletes who lose athletic scholarships because of injuries sustained while participating in athletic program with equivalent scholarships.

NJ HB936

Relating to the withdrawal or revocation of an athletic scholarship by a public institution of higher education on the basis of a student athlete's injury, illness, or disability.

NJ SB1319

Relating to a limit on the number of athletic scholarships that may be awarded to foreign students by a public institution of higher education.

NJ HB3100

Relating to a limit on the number of athletic scholarships that may be awarded to foreign students by a public institution of higher education.

NJ S1289

Adds to existing law to establish provisions regarding scholarship limitations for certain student athletes at public institutions of higher education.

NJ HB584

Regards athletic scholarship limits for foreign students

NJ SB200

Provides for restrictions to international intercollegiate athlete's compensation, rights, and athletic scholarships. (8/1/25)

NJ S2552

Permits public high school student-athletes to opt out of physical education during their athletic seasons.

Similar Bills

NJ A2970

Requires public institutions of higher education to provide student-athletes who lose athletic scholarships because of injuries sustained while participating in athletic program with equivalent scholarships.

SC H3871

Palmetto Access to HigherEd (PATH) Act

WI SB868

Permissible financial aid reductions in higher education. (FE)

SC H3327

Educational lottery scholarship grants

NJ S3296

Requires public institution of higher education to provide alternative scholarship to student-athlete who loses athletic scholarship due to injury.

WY HB0057

AN ACT relating to the use of Hathaway scholarships at private post secondary institutions; defining terms; creating a scholarship; establishing eligibility requirements; establishing payment of scholarship funds to private post secondary institutions; specifying success curriculum requirements; modifying the duties of the department of education; providing a sunset date; requiring rulemaking; requiring reporting; making conforming amendments; and providing for an effective date.

NJ A450

Requires public institution of higher education to provide alternative scholarship to student-athlete who loses athletic scholarship due to injury.

WI AB486

Permissible financial aid reductions in higher education. (FE)