Republican delegates in the state General Assembly have successfully netted enough signatures to suspend a piece of legislation that would provide in-state tuition to undocumented students. The legislation will be put to a referendum in the November 2012 general election.

Opponents of the bill, known as the state’s DREAM Act — a reference to the federal Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors Act that failed in the Senate last December — launched a petition initiative soon after the statute barely passed the body in April. The petition effort was led by House Minority Leader Anthony O’Donnell (R-Calvert and St. Mary’s), Del. Neil Parrott (R-Washington), Del. Patrick McDonough (R-Baltimore and Harford) and Del. Justin Ready (R-Carroll).

At least 55,736 valid signatures were needed for the petition to reach the ballot, and the state Board of Elections had already certified more than 47,000 before petitioners turned in their final collection of signatures June 30. By July 7, officials had certified more than 63,000 names — enough to cause a referendum.

DREAM Act opponents submitted more than 132,000 signatures in total, although defenders of the law have indicated they will challenge the legality of some signatures in hopes of preventing the referendum from taking place.

Under the legislation, undocumented students qualify for in-state tuition if they complete 60 community college credits, prove they or their parents have paid state taxes for at least three years and graduate from a state high school.

McDonough said both sides are now in “campaign mode.”

“It’s like a regular campaign,” he said. “I expect our opponents to have a lot of money and to tell a lot of lies, but they can’t win because the people are not stupid and they understand what this bill is all about, and they don’t want it.”

Sen. Victor Ramirez (D-Prince George’s), who authored the bill, said it would not provide undocumented students with an unfair advantage but would rather treat all state residents the same.

“It treats Maryland high school graduates fairly and equally,” Ramirez said. “It’s a reasonable bill. If you live here and graduate from our schools, we feel that you should receive in-state tuition.”

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