New Jersey § 18a:62-24

§ 18a:62-24.

a. Any member of the New Jersey National Guard shall be permitted to attend regularly-scheduled

courses at any public institution of higher education in this State enumerated in N.J.S.18A:62-1 and receive up to 16 credits per semester tuition-free provided that: (1) the member has completed Initial Active Duty Training and, except as otherwise

provided pursuant to subsection c. of this section, is in good standing as an active

member of the New Jersey National Guard; (2) the member has been accepted to pursue a course of undergraduate study and is

enrolled as an undergraduate student in good standing at that institution or a course

of graduate study and is enrolled as a graduate student in good standing at that institution; (3) the member has applied for all available State student grants and scholarships

and all available federal student grants and scholarships for which the member is

eligible; and (4) the member has applied for tuition benefits available through the United States

Department of Veterans Affairs for which the member is eligible under the “Post-9/11

Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008,” Pub.L. 110-252 ( 38 U.S.C. s.3301 et seq. ), except that such application shall not be required in the case of a tuition benefit

transfer by the member as permitted by federal law . b. The State shall reimburse a public institution of higher education for the tuition

cost of each National Guard member who enrolls in the institution pursuant to the

provisions of this section to the extent that the tuition cost is not paid through tuition benefits available

to the member through the United States Department of Veterans Affairs under the “Post-9/11

Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2008,” Pub.L. 110-252 ( 38 U.S.C. s.3301 et seq. ) . c. Any member of the New Jersey National Guard whose enrollment in a public institution

of higher education on a tuition-free basis pursuant to subsection a. of this section

is interrupted by a deployment to active duty shall be permitted to receive the free

tuition benefit after discharge from service under conditions other than dishonorable. In the event of a non-medical discharge or a medical discharge that is not caused

by an illness or injury related to the performance of duties for the National Guard,

eligibility for the free tuition benefit shall begin from the date of discharge and

shall continue for one semester or a period of time equal to the length of the deployment,

whichever is longer. In the event of medical discharge or medical retirement as a result of illness or

injury incurred in the combat theater, as a result of terrorist action, or in the

response to a natural disaster, eligibility for the free tuition benefit shall begin

from the date of discharge or retirement and shall continue until completion of the

degree program in which enrolled or for five years, whichever occurs first.