Topeka ? Gov. Kathleen Sebelius said today she was disappointed that House Speaker Doug Mays has put the brakes on a bill that would allow in-state tuition for undocumented immigrants.

“They need to step up to the plate,” and approve the bill, Sebelius said.

She said making higher education more accessible “is a benefit for all of the state.”

Mays, R-Topeka, has opposed the measure.

On Wednesday, Mays removed state Rep. Tom Sloan, R-Lawrence, from a conference committee after Sloan placed the immigration-higher ed measure in another bill.

The proposal would allow students who are in the country illegally but have lived in Kansas at least five years to be charged the lower, resident tuition rate at public universities, community colleges and vocational colleges. The students would also have to prove they are seeking citizenship or legal resident status.

The difference in resident tuition rates and out-of-state tuition rates keeps many illegal immigrants from attendiing college, minority advocacy groups say. For example, 15 undergraduate hours at Kansas University this semester is $1,763 for residents and $5,501 for non-residents.

For more on this story, pick up a copy of Friday’s Journal-World.1>