SENATE DOCKET, NO. 599        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 654

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Sonia Chang-Diaz

_________________

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.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Sonia Chang-Diaz

Second Suffolk

Benjamin Swan

11th Hampden

Kenneth J. Donnelly

Fourth Middlesex

Timothy J. Toomey, Jr.

26th Middlesex

Jason M. Lewis

Fifth Middlesex

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

William Smitty Pignatelli

4th Berkshire

William N. Brownsberger

Second Suffolk and Middlesex

Tricia Farley-Bouvier

3rd Berkshire

Mary S. Keefe

15th Worcester

Jay R. Kaufman

15th Middlesex

Cynthia S. Creem

First Middlesex and Norfolk

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

Byron Rushing

9th Suffolk

Carmine L. Gentile

13th Middlesex

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 599        FILED ON: 1/15/2015

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 654

By Ms. Chang-Diaz, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 654) of Sonia Chang-Diaz, Benjamin Swan, Kenneth J. Donnelly, Timothy J. Toomey, Jr. and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to higher education opportunities for high school graduates in the Commonwealth.  Higher Education.

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)

_______________

 

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 appearing in the 2012 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof 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 and for state-funded financial assistance 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)(A) through (S) 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, and shall be eligible on the same terms as other persons for state-funded financial assistance, 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.,14 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. The Legislature finds that this is a state law within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. 1621(d).