Democratic senators are staying optimistic that Colorado Senate Bill 126 will continue showing success.
The bill passed the Education Committee last week and was granted approval again Tuesday, in front of the Finance Committee of the Colorado General Assembly.
Sen. Mike Johnston (D-Denver), one of the bill’s sponsors, said that the bill will probably be heard in the Senate next on Monday.
“The bill will next be heard in the Senate Appropriations Committee on Friday,” Sen. Johnston said. “It will most likely be heard on the Senate floor on Monday.”
Also known as the Colorado Advancing Students for a Stronger Economy Tomorrow Bill, Senate Bill 126 would allow undocumented students to receive unsubsidized in-state tuition at Colorado universities and colleges, if they have attended a Colorado public high school for three or more years and are admitted to a higher education institution immediately following high school graduation, according to the bill.
“For undocumented students, this means hundreds of students will have access to higher education. But this is primarily a fiscal issue,” Sen. Johnston said. “While the state has had to cut funding for higher education, this bill is estimated to increase higher education revenue.”
However, the bill may have a tougher time winning over the house, which is held by Republicans.
One opponent, Colorado Sen. Nancy Spence [R-Centennial], voted against Senate Bill 126 in the Education Committee.
“My question is how a college graduated undocumented student will find employment,” Sen. Spence said. “It is against federal law for an employer to hire an illegal alien. We are setting up young people to commit a felony by falsifying documentation, which is the only way they can get a job.”
The bill strikes differing opinions across CU’s campus as well.
Corey Anderson, a 21-year-old senior film and psychology double major, said he doesn’t believe Senate Bill 126 will pass.
“I thought this bill would have died awhile back and I’m actually surprised it has gotten this far,” Anderson said. “I don’t see it helping colleges gain any revenue.”
Karina Edmondson, a 22-year-old senior psychology major, said she believes the bill will help people who want to better themselves.
“Not allowing undocumented students to attend college is denying people who work hard and want to go to college in hopes of bettering themselves,” Edmondson said.
Despite the debate over the bill, the idea of granting illegal immigrants in-state tuition seems to be coming into question in other states. Eleven states in the US now have passed very similar bills, including Texas.
Not to mention this is not the first time a bill about undocumented students having opportunities in college has been proposed in Colorado.
Contact CU Independent Staff Writer Courtney Thienes at Courtney.thienes@colorado.edu.
