Further Amendment #563.1 to H4000

Further Amendment to #563

Mr. Sannicandro of Ashland moves to further amend amendment 563 by inserting the following section:-

SECTION XXA.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the provisions of section XX, including sections (a) and (b) shall not take effect until such time as (i) the board of higher education, in consultation with the executive office of health and human services, furnishes an analysis to the joint committee on higher education on the impacts of the current policy, restricting in-state tuition eligibility to United States citizens and documented immigrants, including but not limited to: (1) proposals to expand access to higher education in Massachusetts, including proposals to permit U.S. veterans who establish residency in Massachusetts within one year of matriculation in a Massachusetts public institution of higher learning to be classified as state residents for tuition purposes and to base in-state tuition eligibility at Massachusetts public institutions of higher education on attendance at a Massachusetts high school for at least 3 years combined with graduation from said high school or attainment of an equivalent credential; (2) proposals to restrict access to higher education in Massachusetts by barring all documented immigrants who are not green card holders from in-state tuition eligibility; (3) comparative impacts on public institutions of higher education in the commonwealth, including any projected changes in tuition revenues and on admissions competitiveness; (4) comparative impacts on the commonwealth’s ability to meet workforce needs, including STEM and health care workforce needs, and to compete economically with surrounding states and with the global economy; (5) comparative impacts on the commonwealth’s ability to retain and attract entrepreneurs; (6) comparative impacts on the commonwealth’s income tax base; (7) any anticipated cost to the state of defending against litigation on behalf of documented immigrants who are not green card holders; (8) implications of any proposed federal immigration legislation which would impact the tuition eligibility of immigrants in the commonwealth; and (9) comparative impacts on the commonwealth’s ability to successfully integrate returning veterans; and (ii) legislation necessary to carry out the recommendations in the report has been filed and enacted pursuant to Part 2, Chap. 1, Sec. 1, Art. II of the Constitution.