2017 -- S 0466

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LC001698

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2017

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- TUITION EQUITY

     

     Introduced By: Senators Quezada, Calkin, Ciccone, Metts, and Goodwin

     Date Introduced: March 02, 2017

     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.

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     Notwithstanding any other 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 they:

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

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     (ii) 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) Registered as an entering student at, or are 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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2015-2016 academic year; and

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

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     (A) The student meets the requirements of subsections (1)(i) and (1)(ii) of this section;

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and

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     (B) The student is a United States citizen, has lawful immigration status, or, if the student

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is not a United States citizen and does not have a lawful immigration status, has filed an

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application for lawful immigration status, or will file such an application as soon as they are

 

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eligible to do so. The affidavit shall not require students to reveal their immigration or citizenship

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status. Provided, that any student who, because of the lack of lawful immigration status, is not

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eligible to receive financial assistance from the federal government and/or the state of Rhode

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Island for attending an institution of higher education, shall not apply for and/or receive such

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financial assistance and/or exemption.

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

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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 section, 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 allow

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students who meet certain requirements to be exempt from paying nonresident tuition at Rhode

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Island universities, colleges or community colleges.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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