2009 -- H 5167

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LC00608

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2009

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A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- STUDENT EQUAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT

     Introduced By: Representatives Diaz, Almeida, Slater, Ajello, and Dennigan

     Date Introduced: January 27, 2009

     Referred To: House Health, Education & Welfare

It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

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     SECTION 1. Chapter 16-59 of the General Laws entitled "Board of Governors for

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Higher Education" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

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     16-59-9.2. Exemption from paying nonresident tuition Student equal economic

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opportunity act. – Notwithstanding any other provision of the general or public laws:

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     (1) A student, other than a non-immigrant alien within the meaning of paragraph (15) of

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subsection (a) of section 1101 of title 8 of the United States Code, who meets all of the following

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requirements shall be exempt from paying nonresident tuition at Rhode Island public universities,

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colleges or community colleges:

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     (i) Has attended an approved Rhode Island high school for three (3) or more years;

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     (ii) Has graduated from an approved Rhode Island high school or received a high school

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equivalency diploma from the state of Rhode Island and has resided in Rhode Island three (3) or

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more years;

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     (iii) Has registered as an entering student at, or is currently enrolled at, an accredited

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institution of higher education in Rhode Island not earlier than the fall semester or quarter of the

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2008-2009 academic year; and

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     (iv) In the case of a person without lawful immigration status, has filed with the

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institution of higher education an affidavit stating that the student has filed an application to

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legalize his or her immigration status, or will file an application as soon as he or she is eligible to

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do so.

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     (2) Identifiable student information obtained pursuant to subdivision (1)(iv) shall be

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confidential except where such a requirement is inconsistent with federal law. If information

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obtained pursuant to this section regarding a student's immigration status is provided to any

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agency for purposes other than the implementation of this act, the entity providing the

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information shall promptly notify the student.

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     (3) The board of governors for higher education shall prescribe rules and regulations as

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may be necessary for the implementation of this section.

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     SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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LC00608

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N A C T

RELATING TO EDUCATION -- STUDENT EQUAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY ACT

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     This act would identify those students who are exempt from paying nonresident tuition at

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public universities, colleges or community colleges.

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     This act would take effect upon passage.

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LC00608

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