HB888: HB888 Education; in-state tuition for postsecondary education for certain noncitizen students; provide

25 LC 61 0262 House Bill 888 By: Representative Carpenter of the 4th A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT To amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to1 provide for in-state tuition for postsecondary education for ce rtain noncitizen students; to2 provide for related matters; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:4 SECTION 1.5 Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, is amended in6 Code Section 20-3-66, relating to determination of in-state resident status of students in the7 University System of Georgia for tuition or fees, by revising subsection (e) as follows:8 "(e)(1) Noncitizen students shall not be classified as in-state for tuition purposes unless9 the student is legally in this state and there is evidence to warrant consideration of in-state10 classification as determined by the board of regents.:11 (A) Obtained a high school diploma or state approved high school equivalency (HSE)12 diploma in this state;13 (B) Is legally authorized to work in this state;14 H. B. 888 - 1 - 25 LC 61 0262 (C) Has independently established and maintained domicile in t his state since15 January 1, 2020, or is the dependent child of a parent who has established and16 maintained domicile in this state since January 1, 2020;17 (D) Has not been convicted of a felony or a high and aggravated misdemeanor; and18 (E) Is enrolled in or applying for admission to an institution of the University System19 of Georgia which, for the two most recent academic years, admitted all academically20 qualified applicants.21 (2) Lawful permanent residents, refugees, asylees, or other eligi ble noncitizens as22 defined by federal Title IV regulations may be extended the sam e consideration as23 citizens of the United States in determining whether they quali fy for in-state24 classification.25 (3) International students who reside in the United States under nonimmigrant status26 conditioned at least in part upon intent not to abandon a forei gn domicile shall not be27 eligible for in-state classification."28 SECTION 2.29 Said title is further amended in Code Section 20-4-21, relating to tuition fees in the Technical30 College System of Georgia, by adding a new subsection to read as follows:31 "(e) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary, the State B oard of the Technical32 College System of Georgia shall classify a noncitizen student a s in-state for tuition33 purposes if the student:34 (1) Obtained a high school diploma or state approved high scho ol equivalency (HSE)35 diploma in this state;36 (2) Is legally authorized to work in this state;37 (3) Has independently established and maintained domicile in this state since January 1,38 2020, or is the dependent child of a parent who has established and maintained domicile39 in this state since January 1, 2020;40 H. B. 888 - 2 - 25 LC 61 0262 (4) Has not been convicted of a felony or a high and aggravated misdemeanor; and41 (5) Is enrolled in or applying for admission to a unit of the Technical College System of42 Georgia which, for the two most recent academic years, admitted all academically43 qualified applicants."44 SECTION 3.45 All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.46 H. B. 888 - 3 -