Education

This bill (A 1315) establishes standardized credit transfer policies between New Jersey's public colleges and universities. It requires all public institutions to create a statewide transfer agreement ensuring general education credits and associate degrees transfer seamlessly to four-year programs, and a reverse transfer agreement allowing students enrolled at four-year schools to earn associate degrees from community colleges for credits completed there. The bill creates a new "New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson" within the Higher Education office to resolve disputes over credit transfers and monitor compliance. It directly affects public colleges, students transferring between institutions, and community colleges offering associate degrees. The bill is pending before the Assembly Higher Education Committee.

This bill prevents New Jersey's State Health Benefits Program (SHBP), School Employees' Health Benefits Program (SEHBP), and Medicaid from denying coverage for maintenance medications treating chronic conditions when a person's health plan or pharmacy provider changes. It requires coverage continuity if a patient was taking the medication before the plan change and the new plan covers that specific drug class. The law applies to state employees, school staff, and Medicaid recipients who rely on ongoing medication for conditions like diabetes or hypertension. It ensures these individuals won't lose access to essential medications due solely to administrative shifts in their health coverage plans.