Sen. Lloyd Smucker, a Republican state senator, introduced a bill Monday to allow illegal foreigners to pay in-state tuition at Pennsylvania public universities.

Currently, Pennsylvania residents pay up to $6,428 tuition for an academic year, while non-residents shell out between $9,642 and $16,070 at the 14 state-owned universities in the state system.

Through this bill, Smucker hopes to give equal higher education to all the young adults.

"These are kids we've already invested in," Smucker told Post-Gazette. "They have the opportunity to contribute. They will be here. So why not give them every chance to contribute? I think it's an economic investment."

This legislation is supported by 12 co-sponsors in the Senate, which includes Majority Leader Dominic Pileggi, R-Delaware, and three other Republicans.

The bill named as Pennsylvania Dream Act, is similar to the federal legislation to provide permanent residence in the country for undocumented students.

Jose Cortez, 19, told the newspaper that his parents brought him to the U.S. at the age of 6, away from crime and violence in their hometown in Mexcio, to provide a better education and future.

Smucker said that these illegal students are willing to work as hard as their fellow local classmates to successfully complete their education, achieve their goals and lead a good life.

Republican spokesman Steve Miskin told the newspaper that even if the bill is passed by the Senate, it would be opposed by the house as this bill would allow illegal immigrants to avoid immigration procedures.