CO SB029

Grants in-state tuition classification to registered members of federally recognized American Indian tribes with historical ties to Colorado, effective for the 2021-22 academic year.

Requires each Colorado public university and college governing board to adopt policies recognizing eligible American Indian students as in-state residents, designated in partnership between the Colorado Commission of Indian Affairs and History Colorado.

Eligible students may be counted as resident students for tuition purposes, college opportunity fund stipends, and state-funded financial assistance programs beginning fall semester 2021-22.

Exempts Fort Lewis College from this requirement due to its historic commitment to American Indian education and preserves existing American Indian pupil tuition waivers under Section 23-52-105.

Addresses disparities in college enrollment among American Indian students, citing 2016 data showing only 19% of college-aged American Indian tribe members were enrolled in college compared to 41% of the total college-aged population.