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SENATE DOCKET, NO. 751 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 836
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
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PRESENTED BY:
Liz Miranda
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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 providing access to higher education for high school graduates in the Commonwealth.
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PETITION OF:
NAME:DISTRICT/ADDRESS :Liz MirandaSecond SuffolkJack Patrick Lewis7th Middlesex2/8/2023Jacob R. OliveiraHampden, Hampshire and Worcester2/8/2023James B. EldridgeMiddlesex and Worcester2/21/2023Julian CyrCape and Islands3/2/2023 1 of 2
SENATE DOCKET, NO. 751 FILED ON: 1/18/2023
SENATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . No. 836
By Ms. Miranda, a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 836) of Liz Miranda, Jack Patrick
Lewis, Jacob R. Oliveira, James B. Eldridge and others for legislation to provide access to higher
education opportunities for high school graduates in the Commonwealth. Higher Education.
[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE SENATE, NO. 823 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 providing access to higher education for high school graduates in the Commonwealth.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority
of the same, as follows:
1 SECTION 1. Section 9 of chapter 15A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2016
2Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding at the end thereof the following paragraph:-
3 "Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for the purpose of
4determining eligibility for in-state tuition rates and fees and for state-funded financial assistance
5at public institutions of higher education, except the University of Massachusetts Medical School
6and the University of Massachusetts School of Law, any person admitted to such public
7institutions of higher education, other than a nonimmigrant alien within the meaning of
8paragraph 15 of subsection (a)(A) through (S) of 8 U.S.C., section 1101 of the federal act, who
9has attended high school in the commonwealth for 3 or more years and has graduated from a
10high school in the commonwealth or attained the equivalent thereof in the commonwealth, shall 2 of 2
11be eligible to pay in-state tuition rates and fees, and shall be eligible on the same terms as other
12persons for state-funded financial assistance, at the University of Massachusetts, or any other
13state university or state college or community college in the commonwealth; provided, however,
14that any person who is eligible for the military selective service under the federal Military
15Selective Service Act, as amended by 50 U.S.C.,14 App. 453, section 3, shall register for such.
16No person qualified for in-state tuition rates and fees under this chapter shall be denied in-state
17tuition and fees as a result of the granting of eligibility under this paragraph. An eligible person
18shall provide the University of Massachusetts, or any other state university or state college or
19community college in the commonwealth with (i) a valid social security number or a document
20reflecting issuance of an individual taxpayer identification number (ITIN) in lieu of a social
21security number; (ii) if that person is not a citizen of the United States or a legal permanent
22resident of the United States, an affidavit signed under the pains and penalties of perjury stating
23that the person has applied for citizenship or legal permanent residence or will apply for
24citizenship or legal permanent residence in accordance with federal statute and federal
25regulations within 120 days of eligibility for such status and (iii) documentation of registration
26with the selective service, if applicable. The Legislature finds that this is a state law within the
27meaning of 8 U.S.C. 1621(d). "