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Tuition for illegal immigrants moves ahead
Posted: 01.26.2012 at 10:09 PM
Updated: 01.27.2012 at 7:55 AM
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 / FOX21: Sade Malloy
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COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO. -- The debate over illegal immigrants qualifying for college tuition is moving through the legislature, again.

But this version is different and wouldn't given undocumented students in-state tuition.

Senate Bill 15, also known as the ASSET bill, Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow would give illegal immigrants who attended a Colorado high school for a minimum of three years and graduated the chance to qualify for tuition on a new third tier called "Standard Rate."

The new category would fall in the middle of the in-state and out-of-state amount.

"We do have some Republican supporters in the House, which we didn't have last time. So, we know that if it makes it's way to the House floor it'll pass. We just don't know which committee it will be assigned to," Sen. Johnston (D), Denver co-sponsor of the bill, said.

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One of the main requirements of the bill is for students to submit an affidavit saying they are seeking citizenship.

And while Senators Giron and Johnston are optimisitc about their bipartisan support, the bill is facing some strong opposition and could have a hard time getting through the Republican-led house.

"The problem I've always seen with the bill we have to have a way for them to work legally in the country. It's not the college tuition that's the issue, it's the ability to have a job and hold down a job legally," Sen. Keith King, (R) from El Paso County said.

Senate Bill 15 passed a Senate committee Thursday in a 4-3 vote and is now moving to the full Senate.

If the bill becomes law, it would help educate and advance as many as 2,000 people over the next four years, plus bring an esitamted $4 million to higher education.

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