Signed by Governor Asa Hutchinson

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with senate amendments and pass a bill that authorizes in-state tuition rates for DACA students.

Highlights:

• Requires state public colleges and universities to classify a student as in-state if the student satisfies 1 of the following requirements (Sec.1):

• The student personally holds or is the child of a person who holds a Federal For I-766 US Citizenship and Immigration Services-issues Employment Authorization Document, also known as a work permit;

• The student has verified that they are a legal resident in Arkansas and have immigrated from the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and

• The student’s request for an exemption under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) has been approved by the US Department of Homeland Security, and will not expire or have to be renewed.

• Requires a student who satisfies 1 of the requirements listed above to also have done the following (Sec. 1):

• Resided in the state for at least 3 years at the time they apply for admission to a state public college or university; and

• Have either graduated from a public or private high school in the state or received a high school equivalency diploma in the state of Arkansas.  

• Requires the Department of Higher Education will promote the necessary rules to implement this section and file said rules with the Secretary of State by January 1, 2020 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass with amendment a bill that authorizes in-state tuition rates for DACA students.

Highlights:

• Requires state public colleges and universities to classify a student as in-state if the student satisfies 1 of the following requirements (Sec.1):

• The student personally holds or is the child of a person who holds a Federal For I-766 US Citizenship and Immigration Services-issues Employment Authorization Document, also known as a work permit;

• The student has verified that they are a legal resident in Arkansas and have immigrated from the Republic of the Marshall Islands; and

• The student’s request for an exemption under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) has been approved by the US Department of Homeland Security, and will not expire or have to be renewed.

• Requires a student who satisfies 1 of the requirements listed above to also have done the following (Sec. 1):

• Resided in the state for at least 3 years at the time they apply for admission to a state public college or university; and

• Have either graduated from a public or private high school in the state or received a high school equivalency diploma in the state of Arkansas.  

• Requires the Department of Higher Education will promote the necessary rules to implement this section and file said rules with the Secretary of State by January 1, 2020 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text