Thread: Florida Senate Committee Shoots Down “Dream Act” Bill

Senate Committee Shoots Down “Dream Act” Bill

February 1, 2012 11:42 AM

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/NSF) – The so called “Dream Act” bill in the Senate which would have granted in-state tuition to Florida high school students who are U.S. citizens but whose parents are in the country illegally is nothing more than a dream.

On Tuesday, the Senate Higher Education Committee voted down the bill (SB 101 which was sponsored by Sen. Rene Garcia of Miami.

During the hearing the committee’s chairman Sen. Steve Oelrich from Cross Creek repeatedly repeatedly interrupting speakers including Miami-Dade College students who travelled to testify in favor of the bill.

Oelrich said Florida has long determined student residency on the status of their parents. And if parents are not in the country legally, it doesn’t matter what the status of the student is.

“I don’t want to give favoritism to anybody,” Oelrich said after the meeting. “These are people who have lived in this country and not played by the rules, I’m talking about the parents, here.”

The bill would grant in-state tuition status to students who had attended at least two years of Florida high school and are American citizens. Such students must now pay out-of-state tuition, which is roughly three times higher and makes it financially much more difficult.

A similar House bill, HB 441, has been referred to four committees and had yet to come up for a vote on that side of the Capitol, so the prospects for the measure weren’t good. But Tuesday’s vote all but eliminates chances the law will be changed this year.

“This is not an immigration issue,” Garcia told the committee. “This is an issue of inequality among U.S. citizens.”

Carla Montes, 20, a student at Miami-Dade College, was born in Miami and graduated from a Miami-Dade County high school but did not qualify for in-state tuition. Instead, she worked as a waitress for a year after graduating from high school so she could establish residency on her own. She said the bill would allow students coming after her an easier road.

During her testimony, Oelrich repeatedly interrupted, reminding her that U.S. citizenship alone is insufficient when it comes to establishing Florida residency, a fact backers of the bill had repeatedly conceded.

“I was expecting them to be harsh, but I was a little surprised at how harsh he was,” Montes said after the meeting. “I mean, I’m an American citizen, right?”

Joining Oelrich in voting against the measure were Sen. Joe Negron, R-Stuart, and Sen. Evelyn Lynn, R-Ormond Beach. Members voting in favor of the bill were Sen. Gary Siplin, D-Orlando, Sen. Jeremy Ring, D-Margate and Sen. Thad Altman, R-Viera.

Senate Committee Shoots Down “Dream Act” Bill « CBS Miami

What was the final vote count?

W

this fleecing of the 14th amendment, by these people has got to stop! They are really taking advantage of an amendment, that was not meant for them and this government knows that. I'm glad this bill was voted down! This is just another example of why they come here illegally, so thay can start producing an american citizen.

Originally Posted by ALIPAC

What was the final vote count?

W

SB 1018: Resident Status for Tuition Purposes

Track This Bill

Glossary of Legislative Terms

GENERAL BILL by Garcia; (CO-INTRODUCERS) Rich; Flores

Resident Status for Tuition Purposes; Classifying as residents for tuition purposes a United States citizen who attends a Florida high school for at least 2 consecutive years and submits his or her high school transcript to and enrolls in an institution of higher education within 12 months after graduating from a Florida high school; requiring the State Board of Education to adopt rules and the Board of Governors of the State University System to adopt regulations, etc.

Senate Committee References:Higher Education (HE), Budget (BC), Rules (RC)

Location: Laid on Table

Last Action: 02/01/2012 Unfavorable by Higher Education, laid on Table; YEAS 3 NAYS 3

Effective Date: upon becoming a law

Senate Bill 1018 (2012) - The Florida Senate