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HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3624 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1281
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Michael J. Moran and Adrian C. Madaro
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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:
The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:
An Act to ensure tuition equity for Massachusetts residents.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :DATE ADDED:Michael J. Moran18th Suffolk1/17/2023Adrian C. Madaro1st Suffolk1/20/2023Rita A. Mendes11th Plymouth1/20/2023Sean Garballey23rd Middlesex1/22/2023Frank A. Moran17th Essex1/27/2023Lindsay N. Sabadosa1st Hampshire1/27/2023Joanne M. ComerfordHampshire, Franklin and Worcester1/27/2023Lydia EdwardsThird Suffolk1/28/2023Jack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex2/2/2023Carol A. Doherty3rd Bristol2/2/2023David Henry Argosky LeBoeuf17th Worcester2/2/2023Vanna Howard17th Middlesex2/2/2023Daniel Cahill10th Essex2/2/2023Christine P. Barber34th Middlesex2/3/2023Jon Santiago9th Suffolk2/6/2023Michelle M. DuBois10th Plymouth2/13/2023Samantha Montaño15th Suffolk2/13/2023Jason M. LewisFifth Middlesex2/13/2023 2 of 2
Paul McMurtry11th Norfolk2/13/2023Tricia Farley-Bouvier2nd Berkshire2/13/2023Carmine Lawrence Gentile13th Middlesex2/13/2023Erika Uyterhoeven27th Middlesex2/14/2023James C. Arena-DeRosa8th Middlesex2/14/2023Tram T. Nguyen18th Essex2/16/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/24/2023Kate Lipper-Garabedian32nd Middlesex2/24/2023Thomas M. Stanley9th Middlesex3/9/2023 1 of 2
HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 3624 FILED ON: 1/20/2023
HOUSE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 1281
By Representatives Moran of Boston and Madaro of Boston, a petition (accompanied by bill,
House, No. 1281) of Michael J. Moran, Adrian C. Madaro and others relative to in-state tuition
rates and fees at public institutions of higher education. Higher Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1352 OF 2021-2022.]
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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In the One Hundred and Ninety-Third General Court
(2023-2024)
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An Act to ensure tuition equity for Massachusetts residents.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 Chapter 15A of the General Laws, as most recently amended by section 20 of chapter 189
2of the acts of 2012, is hereby amended by adding the following section: —
3 Section 9C(a) Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for the purpose
4of determining eligibility for in-state tuition rates and fees at state institutions of higher education
5in Massachusetts, any person admitted to such state institutions of higher education, other than a
6nonimmigrant alien within the meaning of paragraph 15 of subsection (a)(A) through (S) of 8
7U.S.C., section 1101 of the federal act, who has attended a high school in the commonwealth for
83 or more years and has graduated from a high school in the commonwealth or attained the
9equivalent thereof from an adult basic education program in the commonwealth, or is currently a
10student in a Massachusetts public higher education institution qualifying for in-state tuition under 2 of 2
11federal regulations, shall be eligible to pay in-state tuition rates and fees, at any state institution
12of higher education in the commonwealth. (b) Proof required of any such person demonstrating
13in-state tuition eligibility as determined by the Department of Higher Education may include, but
14not limited to,: (A) if eligible for the military selective service under the federal Military
15Selective Service Act, as amended by 50 U.S.C., App. 453, section 3, register for such; (B)
16provide the state institution of higher education in the commonwealth in which enrollment is
17sought with documentation of registration with the selective service, if applicable; (C) supply the
18state institution of higher education in which enrollment is sought with a valid social security
19number or a document reflecting issuance of an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN)
20in lieu of a social security number; (D) file, in every year of enrollment, a Massachusetts income
21tax return pursuant to chapter 62 of the general laws; and (E) file at the time of enrollment, if that
22person is not a citizen of the United States or a legal permanent resident of the United States, an
23affidavit signed under the pains and penalties of perjury stating that the person has applied for
24citizenship or legal permanent residence or will apply for citizenship or legal permanent
25residence in accordance with federal statute and federal regulations within 120 days of eligibility
26for such status. (c) No person qualified for in-state tuition rates and fees under this chapter shall
27be denied in-state tuition and fees as a result of the granting of eligibility under this paragraph.
28(d) The Legislature finds that this is a state law within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. 1621(d).
29Provided further that the Department of Higher Education in collaboration with the public
30institutions of higher education shall promulgate regulations to facilitate the in-state tuition
31eligibility process.
32 This act shall take effect upon passage.