Some Colorado lawmakers want to give in-state college tuition to undocumented students, but unlike efforts to do this in the past, this year's legislation requires the students to give something back.

Senate Bill 170 would mandate the students apply for U.S. citizenship.

"I just believe philosophically [that] we shouldn't punish children for the decisions of adults," Sen. Chris Romer (D-Denver) said.

He will present SB 170 to the Senate Education Committee on Thursday afternoon.

"They're all going to have to sign an affidavit that they're going to seek citizenship. These are going to be people we want in our society. These are hard-working kids who really have aspirations of making our society better," Romer said.

This year's effort is also different from attempts in previous years which lawmakers have defeated in that there is a clause preventing undocumented students from receiving any financial aid. Romer said Colorado is "not politically ready" to subsidize the education of undocumented students.

Out-of-state tuition costs students roughly five times more than in-state tuition. For example, figures compiled by the Colorado Department of Higher Education show an Arts and Sciences major at CU Boulder who has residency in Colorado is paying $5,992 in the 2008-09 school year. A non-resident student would be charged $25,400.