SB 935

Abstract

Public institutions of higher education; eligibility for in-state tuition. Provides that any student is eligible for in-state tuition who (i) attended high school for at least two years in the Commonwealth and either (a) graduated on or after July 1, 2008, from a public or private high school or program of home instruction in the Commonwealth or (b) passed, on or after July 1, 2008, a high school equivalency examination approved by the Secretary of Education; (ii) has submitted evidence that he or, in the case of a dependent student, at least one parent, guardian, or person standing in loco parentis has filed, unless exempted by state law, Virginia income tax returns for at least two years prior to the date of registration or enrollment; and (iii) registers as an entering student or is enrolled in a public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth. The bill states that students who meet these criteria shall be eligible for in-state tuition regardless of their citizenship or immigration status, except students with currently valid visas issued under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(F), 1101(a)(15)(H)(iii), 1101(a)(15)(J) (including only students or trainees), or 1101(a)(15)(M). Information obtained in the implementation of the provisions of the bill shall only be used or disclosed to individuals other than the student for purposes of determining in-state tuition eligibility. This bill is identical to HB 1547.

Public institutions of higher education; exemptionfrom out-of-state tuition rates. Permits an individual to beexempt from paying out-of-state tuition rates at public institutionsof higher education in the Commonwealth if he meets the followingcriteria: (i) attended high school for at least one year in the Commonwealthand either (a) graduated from a public or private high school orprogram of home instruction in the Commonwealth or (b) passed a highschool equivalency examination approved by the Secretary of Educationand (ii) registers as an entering student or is enrolled in a publicinstitution of higher education in the Commonwealth. The bill providesthat this exemption shall be available to students who meet the criteriaregardless of their citizenship or immigration status, except thatstudents with currently valid visas issued under 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(F),1101(a)(15)(H)(iii), 1101(a)(15)(J) (including only students or trainees),or 1101(a)(15)(M) are not eligible. Information obtained in implementingthe provisions of the bill is confidential and shall be used or disclosed only for purposes of administering the program.