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Rep. Charles Young Jr., D-Meridian presents legislation that allows community colleges to provide optional out-of-state waiver policy to be determined by the board of each college, Thursday, Feb. 7, 2013 in House Chambers at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/Rogelio V. Solis)
House Bill 317 would permit boards of trustees at community and junior colleges around the state to create policies that allow students to pay in-state tuition. The bill stipulates that the policies must be considered fiscally responsible and comply with the overall educational mission of the school.
Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, for example, charges $1,150 per semester for in-state full-time students and $2,073 for out-of-state students, according to the school's website.
Meridian Community College's website shows that the school currently charges $1,000 for Mississippi residents and $1,690 for out-of-state students.
The bill also states that schools that elect to waive out-of-state tuition should identify alternative funding through partnerships with local businesses.