2015 -- S 0305

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LC001245

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2015

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TUITION EQUITY

     

     Introduced By: Senators Pichardo, Metts, Crowley, Miller, and Nesselbush

     Date Introduced: February 12, 2015

     Referred To: Senate Finance

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-59 of the General Laws entitled "Board of Governors for Higher

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Education" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     16-59-9.2. Student Equal Economic Opportunity Act.-- Notwithstanding any other

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provision of the general or public laws:

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     (1) A student, other than a non-immigrant alien within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. 1101

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(a)(15) who meets all of the following requirements, shall be exempt from paying nonresident

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tuition at Rhode Island public universities, colleges or community colleges if he or she:

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     (i) Has attended an approved Rhode Island high school for three (3) or more years;

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     (ii) Has graduated from an approved Rhode Island high school or received a high school

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equivalency diploma from the state of Rhode Island;

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     (iii) Has registered as an entering student at, or is currently enrolled at, an accredited

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institution of higher education in Rhode Island not earlier than the fall semester or quarter of the

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2013-2014 academic year; and

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     (iv) Has filed with the institution of higher education an affidavit stating that:

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     (A) The student meets the requirements of paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this subdivision; and

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     (B) The student is a U.S. citizen, has lawful immigration status, or, if the student is not a

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U.S. citizen and does not have a lawful immigration status, has filed an application for lawful

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immigration status, or will file such an application as soon as he or she is eligible to do so. The

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affidavit shall not require students to reveal their immigration or citizenship status. Provided, that

 

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any student who, because of the lack of lawful immigration status, is not eligible to receive

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financial assistance from the federal government and/or the state of Rhode Island for attending an

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institution of higher education, shall not apply for and/or receive such financial assistance and/or

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exemption.

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     (2) Identifiable student information obtained pursuant to subdivision (1)(iv) of this

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section shall be confidential except where such a requirement is inconsistent with federal law. If

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information obtained pursuant to this section regarding a student's immigration status is provided

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to any agency for purposes other than the implementation of this act, the entity providing the

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information shall promptly notify the student.

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     (3) The Rhode Island board of education shall prescribe rules and regulations as may be

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necessary for the implementation of this section.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TUITION EQUITY

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     This act would create the "Student Equal Economic Opportunity Act" which would

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identify those students who are exempt from paying nonresident tuition at public universities,

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colleges or community colleges.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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