Georgia Lawmakers considered a measure that would block undocumented immigrants from attending public colleges and universities.

The House Judiciary Non Civil Committee on Monday voted to pass an amended version of a bill that passed out of the Senate earlier this month.

Illegal immigrants are already barred from the state's most competitive schools, including the University of Georgia and Georgia Tech, but may attend any other state college or university.

Opponents of the measure say undocumented students are not getting a free ride because they pay up to triple in tuition at the out-of-state rate.

Sen. Barry Loudermilk a Republican from Cassville sponsored the bill. He says tuition aren't the only costs for tax payers.

"We budget a lot of money to university systems and not all of that goes just to tuition it goes to capital projects, buildings, housing, and computer systems that go into the public universities," he said.

The bill also makes some adjustments to the identification requirements from last year's law for applicants for public benefits, which include food stamps and professional licenses.

The measure now heads to the House Rules Committee, which will decide whether it will go to the House floor for a vote.

Tags: education, immigration, Public Benefits, Undocumented immgrants