Colorado lawmakers worked Monday on a bipartisan bill that would give kids in some military families a break on college tuition.Under the proposed law, some dependents in military families would be eligible for in-state college tuition, even if they don’t graduate from high school in Colorado. The measure could save military families as much as $10,000 per year. It costs in-state students roughly $17,000 per year to attend the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and it costs out-of-state students nearly $27,000 per year.For the in-state rate to apply, a student must have spent at least two years in a Colorado high school. That means high school students suddenly yanked out of state when one or both of their parents are transferred to a new base, would be eligible for in-state tuition.“When the family moves, the kid, who has established relationships here, can’t just come back,” said Rep. mark Waller, R-Colorado Springs, who sponsored the bill.Waller said the measure wasn’t his idea. University of Colorado Regent Sue Sharkey came to him with the bill, and said the university wanted the discount for military kids.It would be optional for colleges to offer the in-state rate, but Waller said Sharkey was passionate about the issue. She and other CU leaders want to be able to attract the best and the brightest, he said, including those who have been forced to leave the state.Students’ eligibility for in-state tuition would expire one calendar year after they graduate high school, said Waller.A few Democrats suggested that the measure could be seen as a partial implementation of a failed effort to grant discounted college tuition to the children of illegal immigrants.“That’s a natural consideration of the bill, that students who are undocumented could get in-state tuition,” said Rep. Dan Pabon, D-Denver. “You don’t have to be a citizen to enlist in the military.”Waller said that was ludicrous.“It’s ridiculous to say this has anything to do with that bill,” Waller said. “If you’re in the military, you’re documented.”Waller said that any immigrant who wants to enlist must be in the country legally.The measure was approved unanimously on a voice vote, and must be approved once more by representatives before going to the Senate.

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