Bill would make more students eligible for Dream Act

A bill to change the newly approved Maryland Dream Act is being considered in Annapolis.
The bill, sponsored by Del. Anne Kaiser (D-Dist. 14) of Burtonsville, is meant to correct what Kaiser is calling an unintended consequence of the Maryland Dream Act. It would make illegal immigrants who are enrolled in high school and dually enrolled in college eligible for in-county college tuition rates.
The Dream Act, which took effect Jan. 1, allows students who are not citizens to pay in-state tuition rates for Maryland universities. But, first, they must graduate from Maryland public high schools and their families must have filed income tax returns in Maryland for three years.
That means students who have not yet graduated but are taking college courses are not eligible.
The House Ways and Means Committee heard Kaiser’s bill on Tuesday. No one other than Kaiser spoke about the bill during the hearing.
The committee also heard a tuition-related bill sponsored by Del. Ana Sol Gutierrez (D-Dist. 18) of Chevy Chase. She said the bill addresses the loophole without touching the scope of the Dream Act.
Under her bill, current high school students who qualify for free and reduced-price meals and who are dually enrolled in college would have their tuition rates waived.