Tuition Break Approved For Undocumented Students - CO
Senate Bill 15 Allows For Separate Tuition Category
thedenverchannel.com
By Lance Hernandez, 7NEWS Reporter
UPDATED: 10:55 pm MST January 26, 2012
DENVER -- Undocumented high school graduates in Colorado will get a break on college tuition under a bill passed by the Senate Education Committee onThursday.
The divisive bill drew a stranding-room-only crowd during a hearing at the State Capitol.
This isn’t the first time that Colorado lawmakers have debated the merits of letting undocumented students pay lower tuition, but all previous attempts have met with defeat.
This latest proposal would create a middle-tier tuition for those students.
“It would be higher than in-state tuition, but lower than out-of-state tuition,” said bill sponsor Sen. Michael Johnston, D-Denver.
A 13-year-old student from Aurora spoke in favor of the proposal during the committee hearing Thursday afternoon.
“I want to be a pediatrician, and my brother wants to be a lawyer,” said Alejandra G. “But it’s going to be so much harder for him to reach his dreams.”
Alejandra told 7NEWS that she was born in Chicago and is a legal resident of this country. She said her 11-year-old brother was born in Mexico and is undocumented.
“It really stunts what he can do with his life,” said bill proponent Lynea Hansen. “There’s a loss of hope.”
But opponents argue that state benefits should only go to legal residents.
“We’re not discriminating against these kids,” said Sen. Keith King, R-El Paso County. “They’re not residents of the state of Colorado. They can still get an education here. They just have to pay out-of-state tuition.”
A spokesman for the Colorado Alliance for Immigration Reform said taxpayers want smaller government and lower costs.
John Brick spoke out against Senate Bill 15, saying, “One way that the cost of government and education can be reduced is to get rid of illegal aliens.”
Brick said the average cost to educate a student from kindergarten through 12th grade in Englewood is $10,500.
He said taxpayers could save a lot of money if they didn’t have to pay to educate undocumented students.
But bill proponents counter that the state has already invested that money educating students and should work to ensure that it gets some of that investment back.
“The more education they achieve, the more money they will earn,” said the bill’s other sponsor, Sen. Angela Giron, D-Pueblo County. “And the more money they will pay in taxes.”
Giron said that under this proposal, the undocumented students will be required to apply for citizenship. She also said that colleges and universities could opt out of the tuition program.
Johnston said an estimated 300 to 500 students could benefit from the bill.
“I think it’s critically important because we have students who have been in Colorado every year since they were 2,” Johnston said. “They’re valedictorians of their high schools who want to go to college and are not able to.”
Giron said that in order to qualify for the lower tuition, called standard rate, students must attend a Colorado public or private high school for three years. She said, they must be admitted to an institution of higher education within 12 months after graduating from high school or earning a certificate.
When Sen. Evie Hudak, D-Jefferson County, asked Johnston how much money undocumented families pay in taxes, he responded, “$200 million."
When Sen. Scott Renfroe, R-Weld County, asked how much money undocumented families cost the state in benefits, Johnston responded, “$217 million."
The bill passed on a 4-3 party-line vote.
King said he anticipates it will pass the Democrat-controlled Senate. He said it will face a much tougher road in the Republican-controlled House.
Tuition Break Approved For Undocumented Students - Denver News Story - KMGH Denver
Tuition For CO Illegal Immigrants Gets Initial Nod
Democratic lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill letting Colorado illegal immigrants qualify for college tuition that's lower than the out-of-state rate.
kktv.com
Reporter: AP
Updated: 5:50 AM Jan 27, 2012
Democratic lawmakers gave initial approval to a bill letting Colorado illegal immigrants qualify for college tuition that's lower than the out-of-state rate.
The bill passed a Senate committee Thursday on a party-line vote with Republicans against. It's expected to clear the full Senate. A bigger challenge will be the Republican-led House.
Senate Bill 15 is the sixth time Colorado lawmakers have debated what benefits illegal immigrant students should receive. The bill gives colleges the option of creating a third tuition category for illegal immigrant students who have graduated from a state high school after. The students also must sign an affidavit saying they are seeking legal status.
Tuition for illegal immigrants would be a bit higher than the in-state rate, but lower than out-of-state.
Online: Senate Bill 15: http://goo.gl/w67ad
Tuition For CO Illegal Immigrants Gets Initial Nod
Illegal immigrants win first battle to get cheaper tuition
9news.com
Written by Matt Flener
6:36 PM, Jan 26, 2012
Video at link
DENVER - They graduate from high school in Colorado but right now, illegal immigrants still have to pay out-of-state tuition for college in Colorado. Advocates for those students are pushing for a discounted rate.
Thursday, they won the first battle to get that cheaper tuition - a bill giving a "standard-rate tuition" to undocumented students passed a Senate committee 4-3.
The tuition rate would be a middle ground between in-state and out-of-state charges for college students. The bill's sponsors say anywhere from 300 to 500 kids could benefit from the program.
They would qualify if they sign an affidavit to say they're seeking legal status.
The issue became hot during the Republican Presidential Race.
Many Republicans did not like when Texas Governor Rick Perry said he gave in-state tuition to illegal immigrants.
His state is one of 13 that has a similar program.
The debate got emotional for those that testified in Colorado.
One future college student said her brother doesn't have the same opportunities she does.
"Even at this young age, my little brother knows he is different from me," said Alejandra Gonzales, a supporter of the bill. "Because I am a citizen, and we are siblings. We should not be treated differently. I'm sad to think he won't have the same opportunities as me."
Detractors from the bill said America offers plenty of opportunities.
"I feel real bad for these kids," said Pauline Olvera, a member of the Colorado Hispanic GOP delegation. "But they haven't lost any opportunity because this is America. It offers opportunity. It might be a little expensive to go to college, but the opportunity is there."
The bill would give colleges the chance to opt out of creating the separate tuition category.
It is expected to have a tough time passing, if it reaches the Republican controlled house.
Illegal immigrants win first battle to get cheaper tuition | 9news.com
