Modifies collective Statewide transfer agreement and reverse transfer agreement; establishes New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson within Office of Secretary of Higher Education.

The collective Statewide transfer agreement now covers transfer of academic credits between all public institutions of higher education, including dual enrollment and concurrent enrollment credits, rather than only seamless transfer from completed associate degrees to baccalaureate programs.

The Secretary of Higher Education is directed to approve or disapprove any dual enrollment or concurrent enrollment agreement in which the partnering institution of higher education is located out-of-State.

Authority to develop the transfer agreement shifts from individual public institutions (in consultation with the Commission on Higher Education) to the New Jersey Presidents' Council, in consultation with the Transfer Ombudsperson, and subject to approval by the Secretary of Higher Education.

The bill explicitly states that the ombudsperson does not have authority to compel an institution of higher education to accept academic credits.

Provisions requiring annual review and update of both the collective Statewide transfer agreement and the reverse transfer agreement are removed (bracketed as deleted).

A new position, the New Jersey Transfer Ombudsperson, is established within the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education. The ombudsperson serves as a resource for students and institutions, may act as an impartial third-party mediator in disputes, must convene stakeholders at least biannually, conduct a periodic review of the agreement at least once every five years, and prepare an annual credit transfer report.

Gender-neutral language changes throughout: 'his' is replaced with 'the student's' or 'an' in multiple sections.

The listing of general education courses in the transfer agreement is now specified as being compiled by the secretary in consultation with the Presidents' Council, rather than merely stipulated by an unspecified party.