Bill doesn’t have much support from lawmakers

BOISE -- A large crowd gathered at the Capitol Annex this afternoon to show support for a bill that would give illegal immigrant students in-state tuition rates at Idaho universities.

As it stands now any undocumented student who applies to an Idaho university must pay out-of-state tuition, something supporters of Senate Bill 1427 say just adds one more obstacle to education and opportunity.

Supporters urged lawmakers to pass a bill that would allow students who have lived in the U.S. for at least three years, and have graduated high school or obtained their GED, to pay in-statetuition at Idaho colleges.

Sonia Galaviz is a Nampa school teacher and supporter of the bill.

"I was able to break that cycle of no formal education, and I am proud to say that I am a first generation college graduate on either side of my family, and that was only possible with the sacrifice that my parents made for me knowing that education is the gateway to opportunity," said Galaviz.

But Senate Education Committee Chairman John Goedde says his constituents don't support giving in-state benefits to illegals - and neither does he.

“Senate Bill 1427 to me provides unfair advantage to illegal aliens that have been in this state, certainly we would be subsidizing the difference in the tuition for out-of-state versus in-state students. At Boise State University that would be about $4,000 this semester for a full-time student," said Goedde.

Goedde says due to lack of support he likely won't schedule the bill for a hearing.

There are nine states that have passed similar legislation, but some of those laws are being challenged in court.

Goedde says he doesn't want to open Idaho up to a lawsuit.