Florida State University president Eric Barron, recently named to head Penn State University, says FSU supports bills in the Legislature allowing eligibility of certain undocumented students for in-state tuition.
A House bill (HB 851) exempts students who have attended three consecutive years of Florida high school from paying out-of-state tuition in state universities and colleges. The bill also allows military veterans living in the state while attending college to pay reduced rates.
The bill already passed two House committees.
The Tallahassee-based university also backs expanding education for veterans.ย
“The university has taken a position that we should be educating, and the doors open to, any of the students that are graduating,” Barron during parting comments to the FSU Board of Trustees. “Nothing is better for the state of Florida than to see truly bright students have an opportunity and succeed.”ย
House Speaker Will Weatherford made the issue a top priority, and Senate President Don Gaetz hinted the possibility that the Legislature could approve in-state tuition for undocumented students.
A Senate companion (SB 1400) to the House bill has not yet appeared before any of the four assigned Senate committees.
Gaetz would personally vote against the proposal, but would not publically say he would stand in the way of the issue if it should make it to the Senate floor.
Gov. Rick Scottโs final position on the topic โ an important issue for his conservative base โ is not clear.
