(1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this article to the contrary, but subject to subsections (4) and (5) of this section, up to a total of twenty-five students deserving of financial support per year from the Commonwealth of Independent States and the People's Republic of China, five of whom shall be of Tibetan nationality, if possible, who are enrolled in a qualifying master's program at a graduate school of public affairs at a state-supported institution of higher education may be classified as in-state students for purposes of tuition at such institution. The total number of students enrolled under this section may not exceed fifty. To qualify for in-state classification pursuant to this section, such students must be enrolled in a master's program which focuses on developing such students' understanding of democracy and which will enable them to apply the doctrines of democracy and free-market principles upon returning to their respective countries, such students must meet the academic requirements of such program, and such students must meet the requirements stated in subsection (3) of this section. In addition, such students shall plan, following graduation, to return to their respective countries to apply the knowledge obtained from such master's program.

(2) To receive in-state classification pursuant to this section, a student shall annually submit an application to the graduate school of public affairs at the university of Colorado at Denver. The dean and faculty council of such graduate school of public affairs shall annually determine those students who may receive in-state classification based on each student's satisfaction of the requirements stated in this section. Upon determining which students may receive in-state classification, the dean or the faculty council shall notify such students and the state-supported institutions of higher education at which such students are enrolled. Notification shall be made not later than July 1 of each year in which such student receives in-state classification pursuant to this section.

(3) To be eligible for in-state classification pursuant to this section, each student must be enrolled as a full-time student and must maintain a full-time principal residence in this state during the time such student is enrolled. Eligibility for in-state classification for each student shall terminate at the time such student receives a degree from the program in which such student was enrolled at the time such in-state classification was first received.

(4) No student admitted pursuant to this section shall be admitted in lieu of a qualified Colorado resident who is applying to a qualified master's program at the graduate school of public affairs at the university of Colorado at Denver.

(5) No student classified as an in-state student pursuant to this section shall be counted as a resident student for any purpose other than tuition classification.

(6) The governing board of each state-supported institution of higher education may grant in-state tuition status to students classified pursuant to this section.

(7) Repealed.