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Tuition
Bill Passed
Newsday (New York, NY)
June 26, 2002 Wednesday QUEENS EDITION
SECTION: NEWS, Pg. A23
By Mae M. Cheng
A bill allowing undocumented immigrants living in New York to pay
in-state tuition to attend state and city colleges narrowly passed
the Assembly yesterday and is expected to be signed into law by
the governor.
"It further establishes our state commitment to having access
to higher education for all New Yorkers," said Assemb. Adriano
Espaillat (D-Manhattan), the sponsor of the bill.
Last fall, City University officials determined that they were
breaking federal law by allowing undocumented immigrants living
in New York to pay in-state tuition and hiked the rates starting
in the spring semester. Undocumented immigrant students at community
colleges were asked to pay about $300 more for the out-of-state
tuition, and those at four-year colleges faced a $1,800 increase
in rates.
The CUNY move resulted in a drive to pass state legislation that
would make tuition more affordable again to undocumented immigrants.
The legislation, which is retroactive to the 2001-2002 school year,
passed the Assembly by a vote of 78 to 69. The State Senate already
had passed its version earlier this month.
"The governor has made a commitment to get this done,"
said Joe Conway, a spokesman for Gov. George Pataki.
Copyright 2002 Newsday, Inc.
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