Senate Democrats outlined a few initiatives Monday that aim to improve quality of life for Latinos in Indiana.
One of the bills Senate Democrats want to pursue this session would grant in-state tuition for undocumented students who graduated from an Indiana high school after attending that school for at least three years.
This is the second time the legislation is coming before the General Assembly. Senate Minority Leader Tim Lanane says the bill had bipartisan support last year, and after the controversy around RFRA last year, this session could be a good time to pass a bill benefiting a minority group.
“There are many students, many individuals that we know, who because they could not afford the in-state tuition rates, have had to defer their dreams," said Lanane. "The time is now to end that. Let’s open up our schools to these wonderful young people, allow them to get the education they need.”
Joining Lanane at the announcement was undocumented student Beatriz Preciado, who graduated from an IPS high school in 2012 and hasn’t been able to finish her college degree because of cost.
“Being able to pay the in-state tuition rate would help me finish what I started majoring in, which was physics and mechanical engineering," Preciado explains. "I really want to finish that off and contribute to the economy here in the state of Indiana because this has been home for so long.”
Currently, undocumented students who attend an Indiana university pay out of state tuition.