By Jim Saunders
A proposal that would prevent people who have been in prison from losing their Florida resident status for higher-education tuition purposes advanced Tuesday in the Senate.
The Senate Education Appropriations Committee unanimously approved the bill (SB 62), which would require that people not lose resident status “solely by reason of incarceration in a state or federal correctional facility in this state.”
A Senate staff analysis said the bill would apply to people who have otherwise met requirements to be classified as residents. For example, people must prove they have maintained legal residence in Florida for at least 12 months before enrolling at a college or university.
The analysis said colleges and universities currently make residency determinations and can establish policies about people who have been in prison.
State law “does not specifically authorize or prohibit time incarcerated in a Florida prison to count toward the 12-month legal residency requirements,” according to the analysis.
“By removing the financial burden that is currently associated with out-of-state residency status, these individuals (people who have been in prison) can now focus on rebuilding their lives and education without the added stress of extra expenses,” bill sponsor Rosalind Osgood, D-Fort Lauderdale, said.
The bill would need approval from the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee before it could go to the full Senate. An identical House bill (HB 767) is slated for a hearing Wednesday in the House Education & Employment Committee.
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