SENATE DOCKET, NO. 599 FILED ON: 1/15/2015
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 654
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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:
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
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In the One Hundred and Eighty-Ninth General Court
(2015-2016)
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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 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).