SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1403        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 566

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Sonia Chang-Diaz

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act regarding higher education opportunities for high school graduates in the Commonwealth..

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PETITION OF:

SENATE DOCKET, NO. 1403        FILED ON: 1/21/2011

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 566

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 603 OF 2009-2010.]

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Eleven

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An Act regarding higher education opportunities for high school graduates in 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 9 of chapter 15A of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 20 of chapter 189 of the acts of 2010, 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 and the University of Massachusetts School of Law, any person admitted to such public institutions of higher education, other than a nonimmigrant alien within the meaning of paragraph 15 of subsection (a) of 8 U.S.C., section 1101 of the federal act, who has attended high school in the commonwealth for 3 or more years and has graduated  from a high school in the commonwealth or attained the equivalent thereof in the commonwealth, shall be eligible to pay in-state tuition rates and fees at the University of Massachusetts, or any other state university or state college or community college in the commonwealth; provided, however, that any person who is eligible for the military selective service under the federal Military Selective Service Act, as amended by 50 U.S.C., App. 453, section 3, shall register for such. 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 person shall provide the University of Massachusetts, or any other state university or state college or community college in the commonwealth with (i) a valid social security number or a document reflecting issuance of an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) in lieu of a social security number; (ii) if that person is not a citizen of the United States or a legal permanent resident of the United States, an affidavit signed under the pains and penalties of perjury stating that the person has applied for citizenship or legal permanent residence or will apply for citizenship or legal permanent residence in accordance with federal statute and federal regulations within 120 days of eligibility for such status and (iii) documentation of registration with the selective service, if applicable.