SUMMARY:  LC 49 1187

The bill is the "Workforce Development Act." It establishes a group of students as "opportunity students" eligible for an "opportunity tuition" rate at eligible units of the University System of Georgia and eligible programs in the Technical College System of Georgia.

An opportunity student is one who graduated from a Georgia high school or obtained a state approved high school equivalency diploma; has independently and continuously  lived in the state since January 1, 2013 or is the dependent child of a parent who has done so; is not a nonimmigrant alien under 8 U.S.C. Section 1101; is a verified recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security; and has not been convicted of a felony, a high and aggravated misdemeanor, or three or more other misdemeanors, and does not pose a threat to national security or public safety.

The tuition for these students would be determined by multiplying the out-of-state tuition by a rate determined by the Board of Regents but shall not be less than 101 percent or more than 110 percent of the in-state tuition for the program. The rate may be different for each unit of the University system or technical college.

Priority in admission would be to those qualifying for in-state tuition. 

EFFECTIVE DATE:

July 1, 2023