SENATE DOCKET, NO. 762        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 740

 

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 providing access to higher education for high school graduates in the Commonwealth.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

 

Sonia Chang-Diaz

Second Suffolk

 

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

1/29/2019

Joanne M. Comerford

Hampshire, Franklin and Worcester

1/30/2019

Maria Duaime Robinson

6th Middlesex

1/30/2019

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

1/30/2019

José F. Tosado

9th Hampden

1/30/2019

Sal N. DiDomenico

Middlesex and Suffolk

1/31/2019

Brendan P. Crighton

Third Essex

1/31/2019

Liz Miranda

5th Suffolk

1/31/2019

Elizabeth A. Malia

11th Suffolk

2/1/2019

Joan B. Lovely

Second Essex

2/1/2019

Mathew J. Muratore

1st Plymouth

2/1/2019

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

2/1/2019

Joseph A. Boncore

First Suffolk and Middlesex

2/1/2019

Nika C. Elugardo

15th Suffolk

2/1/2019

Carlos González

10th Hampden

2/1/2019

Russell E. Holmes

6th Suffolk

2/1/2019

Julian Cyr

Cape and Islands

3/6/2019

Jennifer E. Benson

37th Middlesex

2/1/2019

Michael J. Barrett

Third Middlesex

2/1/2019

Susannah M. Whipps

2nd Franklin

2/1/2019

David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf

17th Worcester

3/4/2019

Lindsay N. Sabadosa

1st Hampshire

3/4/2019

William N. Brownsberger

Second Suffolk and Middlesex

3/5/2019

Rebecca L. Rausch

Norfolk, Bristol and Middlesex

7/1/2019

Patricia D. Jehlen

Second Middlesex

7/19/2019


SENATE DOCKET, NO. 762        FILED ON: 1/16/2019

SENATE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 740

By Ms. Chang-Diaz, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 740) of Sonia Chang-Diaz, Denise Provost, Joanne M. Comerford, Maria Duaime Robinson and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to higher education opportunities for high school graduates in the Commonwealth.  Higher Education.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 669 OF 2017-2018.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninety-First General Court
(2019-2020)

_______________

 

An Act providing access to higher education 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 1. Section 9 of chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016 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). "