Senate panel revises bill to provide in-state tuition rates to students here illegally
By MATT DIXON
Posted April 9, 2014 at 7:32 p.m.
naplesnews.com


Florida Gov. Rick Scott recognizes a visitor in the gallery during his State of the State speech Tuesday, March 4, 2014m on the floor of the House of Representatives at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Fla. Scott touted Florida's improving economy in his speech that drew a contrast between the recession years under former Gov. Charlie Crist and the jobs created during his first three years in office. (AP Photo/Phil Sears)

NAPLES — Legislation offering in-state tuition rates to college students who are in the country illegally continued to slowly make its way through the state Senate on Wednesday, but not before picking up provisions opposed by Gov. Rick Scott.

The bill would offer in-state tuition rates to students who attended a Florida high school for three consecutive years, enroll in a college within two years after graduation, and submit their Florida transcripts.

Some version of the bill has been filed over the past decade, but never gotten momentum in the Legislature. The motivation for this year’s version (SB 1400) is that children who were brought to the U.S. illegally at a young age shouldn’t be punished for mistakes made by their parents.

“I thank God my children are not held responsible for the mistakes I’ve made,” said state Sen. Jack Latvala, R-St. Petersburg.

His bill passed the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education on an 8-5 vote.

Underscoring the unique nature of the bill, state Sen. Bill Galvano, R-Bradenton, the committee’s chairman, voted against the bill. In both of the bill’s Senate committee hearings, the chairman of the committee voted “no.” In most cases, a bill has no shot in a committee whose chairman is in opposition.

Latvala’s bill is packed with a host of tuition-reducing measures, including making the state’s prepaid tuition program more affordable, and giving in-state tuition waivers to military veterans who aren’t Florida residents.

Another provision, though, could present some political roadblocks. The bill had a provision that removed a state university’s ability to increase tuition without legislative approval, which is known as “differential tuition.”

An amendment tacked onto the bill, though, allows the University of Florida in Gainesville and Florida State University in Tallahassee to independently raise tuition 6 percent.

Scott said he supports the Senate version of the bill because of the tuition decreases, including removing differential tuition. He’s publicly opposed a House version that lowered the tuition provision from 15 percent to 6 percent, but keeps so-called “differential tuition” in place.

Scott’s office said he is “open to the compromise“ plan, but didn’t pledge full support.

With Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, in opposition, the bill’s fate in his chamber was initially tenuous, but is improving. It has passed two Senate committees, but both by close votes.

Some argued that the bill represented a state mandate that could burden universities and colleges.

“The universities are going to be first in line and say there are new regulations you put on us so we need more money on this,” said state Sen. Aaron Bean, R-Fernandina Beach.

Supporters cast it as a no-brainer because many of the undocumented students pay sales tax, which helps financially support state colleges and universities, and because many have become part of local communities.

“This is a good bill, these students go to classes with our children,” said state Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples.

The bill has cobbled together an odd coalition of supporters, including Associated Industries of Florida, one of the state’s largest business lobbies, and the Florida AFL-CIO, which represents roughly 500 labor unions.

The bill already has passed the House, where Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, served as an early advocate for the proposal. It has one remaining committee stop in the Senate.

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