First Regular Session
             Sixty-seventh General Assembly
                    STATE OF COLORADO
                                       CORRECTED INTRODUCED
                                                           
                                                           
 LLS NO. 09-0331.01 Julie Pelegrin       SENATE BILL 09-170
                   SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 Romer,  Bacon, Sandoval, Tapia, Groff
 
                    HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 (None),
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 Senate Committees
 House Committees
 
 
 Education
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         A BILL FOR AN ACT
       Concerning nondiscrimination in determining the amount
            paid for higher education.
       
       
                           Bill Summary
       
            (Note:  This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
       not necessarily reflect any amendments that may be subsequently
       adopted.)
       
            Requires that a person, regardless of immigration status, who
       attends a Colorado high school for at least 3 years and enrolls in a
       Colorado institute of higher education within 5 years after either
       graduating from a Colorado high school or earning a general education
       diploma in Colorado shall be charged the same tuition rate and shall be
       eligible for tuition assistance under the same criteria as a person who
       establishes domicile in Colorado.
            Makes conforming amendments.
       
       
       
       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
            SECTION 1.  23-7-110, Colorado Revised Statutes, is amended
       to read:
            23-7-110.  Tuition rates and tuition assistance for persons who
       graduate from Colorado high schools or complete a Colorado general
       equivalency diploma.  (1)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this
       article to the contrary and regardless of immigration status, a
       student who is a United States citizen person shall be classified as an
       in-state student for tuition purposes charged the same tuition rate
       that is charged to persons who establish domicile in this state
       and may receive state-funded tuition assistance subject to the
       same criteria as are applied to persons who establish domicile in
       this state if:
            (a)  The student graduated from person attended a public or
       private high school in this state for at least three years; and
            (b) (I)  The student attended person enrolls in a Colorado
       institution of higher education within five years after
       graduating from a public or private high school in this state; for at
       least three years immediately preceding the date the student enrolled in
       a Colorado institution of higher education; or
            (II)  The student completed person enrolls in a Colorado
       institution of higher education within five years after earning
       a general equivalency diploma in this state. and resided in this state for at
       least three years immediately preceding the date the student enrolled in
       a Colorado institution of higher education.
            (2)  Any information provided to satisfy the criteria specified in
       this section shall be confidential unless disclosure is explicitly required
       by law.
            (3)  This section provides an additional option for a student
       seeking to be classified as an in-state student for tuition purposes. This
       section shall not be interpreted to impose additional requirements upon
       a student seeking to be classified as an in-state student for tuition
       purposes under any other section of this article.
            SECTION 2.  23-18-102 (5) (a) (I) and (5) (a) (II) (A), Colorado
       Revised Statutes, are amended to read:
            23-18-102.  Definitions.  As used in this article, unless the context
       otherwise requires:
            (5) (a)  "Eligible undergraduate student" means:
            (I)  A student who is enrolled at a state institution of higher
       education and who is classified as an in-state student for tuition purposes
       or who, pursuant to section 23-7-110, may receive state-funded
       tuition assistance subject to the same criteria as are applied to
       persons who establish domicile in this state; or
            (II)  A student who is enrolled at a participating private institution
       of higher education and who:
            (A)  Is classified as an in-state student for tuition purposes or
       who, pursuant to section 23-7-110, may receive state-funded
       tuition assistance subject to the same criteria as are applied to
       persons who establish domicile in this state;
            SECTION 3.  24-76.5-103 (3) (f) and (3) (g), Colorado Revised
       Statutes, are amended, and the said 24-76.5-103 (3) is further amended
       BY THE ADDITION OF A NEW PARAGRAPH, to read:
            24-76.5-103.  Verification of lawful presence - exceptions -
       reporting - rules.  (3)  Verification of lawful presence in the United
       States shall not be required:
            (f)  For pregnant women; or
            (g)  For individuals over the age of eighteen years and under the
       age of nineteen years who continue to be eligible for medical assistance
       programs after their eighteenth birthday; or
            (h)  For persons described in section 23-7-110, C.R.S., who
       receive the same tuition rate as, and qualify for state-funded
       tuition assistance subject to the same criteria as are applied to,
       persons who establish domicile.
            SECTION 4.  Safety clause.  The general assembly hereby finds,
       determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
       preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.