Bill offering DACA recipients lower college tuition passes Arizona Senate

PHOENIX — A bill designed to offer a more affordable university tuition rate for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program recipients passed the Arizona Senate on Wednesday.

Senate Bill 1217 was approved with a vote of 18-12.

Republican Sen. Heather Carter, the bill’s sponsor, said it’s critical to our economy that these students have access to higher education.

“Many times (they) are choosing to not continue their education, because they can’t afford it or they’re taking a longer time to graduate,” she said.

Carter said the bill will also allow for those who move away for a short period to be able to return and still qualify for in-state tuition.

“Arizona desperately needs more people with either a career or technical certification, a two-year degree or four-year degree, even a master’s or doctorate degree,” she said.

She outlined some of the requirements students would have to meet in order to qualify for the new lowered tuition rate.

“No. 1, are you academically eligible to attend either community college or university, and No. 2, did you graduate from an Arizona high school?” she said.

The bill is expected to be assigned to a committee by early next week.

It would need to be passed by the House and signed by Gov. Doug Ducey before becoming law.

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