PHOENIX - A higher education funding bill that would authorize community colleges to offer some four-year baccalaureate degrees faced another round of opposition in the Arizona Senate yesterday, but ultimately passed out of a committee.

The bill, HB2079, has been revised many times since its introduction in the House of Representatives in early March and has been complemented and criticized each time it faced a vote.

University representatives said they do not like the swift attempt to change the higher education system in the state, both in its structure and how it is financed, without closer consideration.

Community college representatives said they greatly support the opportunity to contribute more to the state by offering a few four-year baccalaureate degrees.

A new issue raised yesterday by Sen. Jake Flake, R-Snowflake, primarily addressed the intent of the bill. Flake said he thought it was more appropriate for the bill to include a measure for a "very comprehensive higher education study," to determine exactly what changes would most benefit the state.

"I think we need this (bill) in place," Flake said, but he said it would be stronger if it also required a study to collect information on how the higher education system functions and what needs to be addressed in the system.

The bill primarily adds a new funding formula for universities and community colleges based on how many full-time students are enrolled, expands that funding for students in health professions, begins to fund building renewal or upkeep and renovations, which haven't been funded by the state in past years and allows community colleges to offer select four-year baccalaureate degrees.

The presidents of the Arizona Board of Regents, the board that oversees the state universities, all oppose the bill for the same reason Flake wanted to add a study.

They wrote a letter to the bill's sponsor, Rep. Laura Knaperek, R-Tempe, when she introduced the bill, which said they wanted the legislature to take more time in making this decision and some things the bill tries to accomplish are good, but careful consideration needed to be taken to determine how to best accomplish these goals.

The bill passed the House of Representatives March 14 by a narrow margin of 31-24 with five not voting. It passed the Senate Higher Education Committee yesterday by a 5-1 vote and faces one more Senate committee before it will be considered by the full Senate.

The Senate Higher Education Committee also considered but failed to pass a bill that would prohibit an undocumented immigrant from receiving state financial aid funds.

Some said the bill, also contoversial, is discriminatory and others said it abides by the U.S. Constitution.

The bill violates four parts of the U.S. Constitution, which say "aliens shall not be eligible" for state funds, said Kathy McKee, chairwoman of Protect Arizona Now, the group that sponsored Proposition 200 which requires proof of citizenship to receive public services.

McKee asked the committee to simply uphold the laws already in place by passing the bill.

Rep. Linda Gray proposed an amendment that would have allowed any immigrant who went to four years of high school in Arizona to be eligible for state financial aid, mainly because she said if a young child is carried across the border by a family member, his immigration was out of his control.

"The amendment is an attempt at fairness," Gray said.

She said financial aid and federal aid grants are not part of the law McKee was referring to.

The amendment was passed and added to the bill, but HB2264 failed in a 3-3 vote.

The Senate Higher Education Committee voted yesterday to increase the tax credit for research performed at a public or private university in Arizona.

The bill, HB2634, has passed the House of Representatives and must also pass the Senate Finance Committee before it faces consideration by the full Senate.

Right now an individual or corporate income tax credit can be claimed based on 20 percent of the research expenses. The bill would raise the credit to 30 percent for universities.

Todd Bankofier, president and chief executive officer of the council, said the credit is important because universities are "idea creators."

"These ideas are no good if (they) remain in the university," Bankofier said.

He said the council supports the bill because when universities bring their ideas and research to the public it facilitates in "building a bridge with communities and universities."

The bill passed by a 4-1 vote.