Lawmakers have introduced a bill to allow students to attend private school at public expense, a proposal that has attracted ire from public school advocates.

New Jersey would spend $37 million in tax credits per year under the legislation dubbed the “New Jersey Student Support Act.” The credits would go toward scholarships that public school advocates say is essentially a school voucher program for New Jersey.

“There are different versions, different names for vouchers but they’re all different names for the same thing, which is diverting public funds to pay for private education expenses,” said Jessica Levin, director of Education Law Center’s Public Funds, Public Schools Campaign.

The bill has not yet been assigned to a legislative committee for review, but state Sen. Vin Gopal (D-Monmouth), the bill’s primary sponsor, said the initial draft has already undergone revisions. For instance, it shrunk from a $250 million initially to $37 million. It also now calls for 50% of the funds generated to go to existing public schools. Gopal said he sees benefits for both sectors.

“I think those are good conversations we should have,” he said.