SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1982 FILED ON: 1/16/2009
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 603
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The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the Year Two Thousand Nine
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An Act relative to equal access to higher education and generating revenue for the commonwealth..
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
SECTION 1. Section 9 of Chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2006 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding the following paragraph:—
Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for the purpose of determining eligibility for in-state tuition rates and fees at public institutions of higher education, except the University of Massachusetts Medical School, any individual admitted to such public institutions of higher education, other than a non-immigrant alien within the meaning of paragraph 15 of subsection (a) of Section 1101 of Title 8 of the United States Code, who has attended high school in the commonwealth for 3 or more years and has achieved graduation from a high school in the commonwealth or attained the equivalent thereof, shall be eligible to pay in-state tuition rates and fees at the University of Massachusetts, or any state or community college. No person qualified for in-state tuition rates and fees under this chapter shall be denied in-state tuition and fees as a result of the granting of eligibility under this paragraph. An eligible individual shall provide the University of Massachusetts, or the state or community college with (i) a document reflecting issuance of an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) in lieu of his or her social security number for such purposes as a social security number may be required under federal law and (ii) a signed affidavit stating that the individual will apply for citizenship or legal permanent residence in accordance with federal statute and federal regulations within 120 days of eligibility for such status.