TRENTON -- For years, even dying couldn't protect you from the long arm of the New Jersey's student loan debt collectors.

That changed on Monday, when Gov. Chris Christie signed into law a bill allowing certain New Jersey student loans to be forgiven if the borrower dies or becomes permanently disabled and to allow those who borrowed money to obtain deferment for temporary total disability.

Sponsors of the bill (S-743) called its passage a notable victory for those who'd already lost so much.

"How anyone could ask a mother -- who just lost her son -- to pay for his student loans is incomprehensible," said Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) chairman of the Senate budget and appropriations committee.

"Student loan payments should stop at death, and with this law in place, they will."

The new law comes after numerous media reports, including some by NJ Advance Media, which showed just how stringent and unforgiving the collections process can be.

According to alleged internal emails recently published by ProPublica, officials at the state's Higher Education Student Assistance Authority were instructed to not tell families of deceased students about programs to forgive their loans unless surviving relatives specifically inquired about the agency's policy.

The Office of Legislative Services estimated that the new law could cost the state about $1.5 million annually between now and 2019.

Claude Brodesser-Akner may be reached at cbrodesser@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @ClaudeBrodesser. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook.