Section 22 Tuition Equity Technical Corrections

Section 9 of chapter 15A of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out the last paragraph, added by section 11 of chapter 28 of the acts of 2023, and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, for the purpose of determining eligibility for in-state tuition rates and fees at public institutions of higher education and for state-funded financial assistance, an individual admitted to such institutions of higher education, other than a nonimmigrant alien within the meaning of 8 U.S.C. § 1101(a)(15)(A) to (S), inclusive, who attended high school in the commonwealth for not less than 3 years and graduated from a high school in the commonwealth or attained the equivalent thereof in the commonwealth, shall be eligible to pay in-state tuition rates and fees at public institutions of higher education and shall be eligible on the same terms as other individuals for state-funded financial assistance at state-funded public and state-approved private, independent nonprofit institutions of higher education. No individual qualified for in-state tuition rates and fees under this chapter shall be denied in-state tuition and fees as a result of the granting of eligibility under this paragraph. To receive in-state tuition at a public institution of higher education or state-funded financial assistance at an institution of higher education under this section, an eligible individual shall provide the institution of higher education where the eligible individual is or plans to become enrolled, with a high school transcript or certificate demonstrating completion of the equivalent thereof in the commonwealth and: (i) a valid social security number; (ii) a document reflecting issuance of an individual taxpayer identification number; (iii) if that individual is not a citizen of the United States or a legal permanent resident of the United States, an affidavit signed under the pains and penalties of perjury stating that the individual has applied for citizenship or legal permanent residence or will apply for citizenship or legal permanent residence in accordance with federal laws and regulations within 120 days of eligibility for such status; or (iv) documentation of registration with the selective service, if applicable. The board of higher education shall issue regulations for the implementation of this paragraph. Student or family information obtained in the implementation of this paragraph shall be protected from disclosure under subclause (c) of clause Twenty-sixth of section 7 of chapter 4, chapter 66A, chapter 93H and other applicable privacy laws.