in Maryland by its state Senate.
Undocumented students hoping to apply for in-state tuition at four-year colleges and universities received the official backing of the full state Senate yesterday in an expected vote that officially puts the issue in the hands of the House of Delegates.
Although many were anticipating the Senate's support after a positive preliminary vote last week, for many yesterday's vote was a major victory for the bill, which has become known as the state's DREAM Act — a reference to the federal Development, Relief and Education for Minors Act, which failed during the U.S. Congress' lame duck session last year.
Following the debate and subsequent vote, students, many of whom identified themselves as being in this country illegally and wore graduation gowns to symbolize their educational aspirations, applauded legislators, who passed SB 167 in a 27 to 20 vote.
If signed into law, the bill would offer undocumented immigrants who have gone to high school in this state, completed 60 credits at a local community college and proven they and their parents have paid state income taxes for at least three years the opportunity to qualify for in-state tuition rates.
Now, with the bill's approval in the Senate, all eyes have turned to the House, which will hold a hearing on the measure next week. Because no legislators have yet made it clear whether the bill will be voted on before the session is out, many fear the bill will be sent to die in committee — just as happened to the same-sex marriage resolution last Friday after passing the upper chamber.
No Republican senators voted for the bill last night, and several said the price tag influenced their votes. State budget analysts have estimated that if implemented the law would cost about $800,000 next year but could increase to $3.5 million by 2016.
"Under this bill, parents who can't even afford their own children's higher education will be subsidizing the higher education of those illegally in our state, and people are going to have a problem with that," Sen. Bryan Simonaire (R-Anne Arundel) said in a phone interview following last night's vote. "We have billions in backlog maintenance, and if you look at the education side, we can't even provide the mandated funding level for K through 12 children."
Sen. Jim Rosapepe (D-Prince George's) said the Senate vote is by no means a predictor of what the House will decide. He also added student input played a significant role in pushing senators to support the initiative.
"I think the students and the universities have worked hard for this; they really did a good job and helped people understand that this is good for everybody," Rosapepe said in a phone interview following the vote. "We need more young people to get good educations, and this is what it's about — making college affordable. It's an encouraging sign, but we'll have to wait and see what happens in the House."
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