Passage likely for state DREAM Act
An act that would provide undocumented immigrants the opportunity to qualify for in-state tuition at four-year colleges and universities appears poised to pass the state Senate after a preliminary floor vote last night pushed the bill forward.
Although the senate is expected to vote on the bill's final passage Monday, last night's six-hour debate and final tally showed that state senators are largely ready to support the controversial legislation, SB 167, known among supporters as the state DREAM Act, a reference to the federal Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act, which failed to pass the U.S. Senate in December.
Not a single Republican voted in favor of the bill, on the basis that it violates federal law, is too costly and may put U.S. citizens at a disadvantage.
If signed into law, the legislation would allow immigrants who entered this country illegally and attended high school in this state the ability to receive less expensive in-state tuition at four-year colleges and universities under the condition that those students first complete 60 credits at a local community college and file for permanent residency within 30 days of enrollment at an institution of higher education.
Despite the partisan split on the issue, state Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George's) said he's optimistic about the bill's chances Monday.
"It looks as though it probably has thevotes to pass," Rosapepe said in an interview following the vote, which took place in an evening session. "I think there's support in the senate for it, but it ain't over until it's over."
Before the proposal can become state law, the House of Delegates must also approve its version of the legislation, HB 470, which was discussed in a state committee yesterday.
Del. Jolene Ivey (D–Prince George's), who serves on the committee that evaluated the bill last night, said the House is more likely to vote to approve the bill with a successful senate vote.
"It's a matter of what happens on the floor," she said. "I sure hope there's enough of them with hearts that can do it."
Ivey said much of the opposition comes from misunderstandings about what the bill seeks to accomplish. She said many people claim that by providing in-state tuition to these students, the state takes away money from taxpayers; however, in order to receive in-state tuition rates, the students and their parents would be required to pay state income taxes, which they are able to do by using a Taxpayer Identification Number rather than a Social Security number.
University System of Maryland lobbyist P.J. Hogan said the Board of Regents — a 17-member body that oversees all institutions in the university system, including this one — supports the bill and hopes the House will soon approve it.
"Under current federal law, we provide students a free K-12 education and we want them to pursue higher education opportunities," Hogan said. "You can be in Maryland and graduate from high school, but by not being able to get in-state tuition, you make it extremely prohibitive to these students."
Ivey said Hogan and the presidents of Prince George's Community College and Montgomery College spoke out strongly in support of the bill last night. The trio noted that if the state truly has a goal of having 55 percent of its residents hold some kind of an advanced degree, it should do everything it needs to achieve those numbers.
"We can't ignore an entire group of people right now," Ivey said. "We really need to expand and reach out and help more residents."
Critics of the legislation focused mainly on the bill's price tag: State budget analysts have estimated that, if implemented, the bill would cost the state about $800,000 next year and noted that the price could increase to $3.5 million by 2016.
State Sen. David Brinkley (R-Frederick) said the measure is unaffordable, according to The Baltimore Sun.
"The issue is not denying education to the individuals," Brinkley told The Sun. "We disagree that the state has to pay for it."
Other opponents have said this state would run the risk of becoming a "sanctuary state" to which undocumented immigrants would flock if the measure is approved.
Ten other states have similar measures in place, including New York, California and Texas.
State Sen. Victor Ramirez (D-Prince George's), who authored the senate bill, could not be reached for comment last night.
Senior accounting major Gerson Elias, who helped gather a group of students to lobby legislators in Annapolis on Monday, said all students should be granted equal educational opportunities.
"I don't think it's fair because a lot of the students didn't choose to come to the U.S. illegally," he said. "They came at a very young age, and it's a decision their parents made for them. They should be given any opportunity to get an education. Who doesn't deserve to get educated?"