Scott OKs sweeping tuition bill

In-state rates for many undocumented students more affordable through law

Florida for the first time will allow qualified undocumented students to pay in-state college rates under a wide-ranging tuition bill signed Monday by Gov. Rick Scott.

The bill, which now becomes state law on July 1, would also:

Eliminate automatic annual tuition increases;

Cap to 6 percent the yearly tuition increase allowed at many major state universities. It is currently 15 percent;

Expand tuition waivers to veterans who received a Purple Heart or other combat decoration to include technical centers. Universities and colleges were already covered by this benefit;

Make it easier to get residency in the state for tuition purposes. Minors must now live with parents in Florida for three years instead of five, and married spouses qualify as residents if their spouses live in the state for just one year.

Because the estimated futurecostofuniversitytu--

ition will be lower, the cost of the Florida Prepaid College Program will fall as well.

“Based on whatwe know, we anticipate that the fouryear university plan will drop from a lump sum of $54,000 to $35,000 or less. And so, when you drop that into a monthly payment, you go from $350 to $250 or less,” said Florida Prepaid spokesperson Shannon Colavecchio. “We think we’ll have about 40,000 people who would see refunds or payment reductions.”

The part of the bill that has received the most notice would allow in-state tuition rates for undocumented students who have attended at least three years of high school in Florida and have a high-school diploma.

“I have many friends who will benefit from this,” said Brayan Vazquez, who commutes from his home in Boynton Beach to MiamiDade College. Only that college and Florida International University already offer in-state tuition to undocumented students.

“The bill would also stop tuition hikes, and a lot of people would say that’s why Rick Scott would go along with the bill, but for us, for my community, it’s anamazing thing,” he said.

The law would affect about a hundred students each at Florida Atlantic University, Broward College and Palm Beach State College.

Universities and colleges will have to report annually the number of resident and nonresident students at their institutions, as well as how many undocumented students are getting in-state rates. These students would only get in-state tuition for up to110 percent of the credits required to obtain a degree.

With Hispanic voters likely to play a key role in the 2014 elections, Scott hit the campaign trail to tout the measure and blast his likely Democratic opponent, Charlie Crist.

“I know what it’s like to work your way through school, but for many kids today, the rising cost of college tuition is making it hard to afford college,” Scott said. “That’s why itwas so important to reverse Charlie Crist’s 15 percent tuition hike.’’

Democrats fired back, saying Scott had opposed similar legislation before and that his rise to the GOP nomination in 2010 was fueled largely by his promises to crack down on illegal immigration.

“While this is a good day for the children of immigrants, I’m sure Floridians are happy there is an election coming up, otherwise Rick Scott would have continued his cuts to education and his assault on Bright Futures scholarships,” said Kevin Cate, aspokesmanfor Crist.

While Vazquez is grateful for the law, he plans to keep taking classes at Miami-Dade.

“Taking the train has become part ofmy life, it’s like my journey through life,” he said.