Lawmakers in Olympia have introduced a measure that would allow young immigrants eligible for a temporary stay in the country to apply for state college financial aid.

The measure announced Tuesday aims to dovetail with the Obama Administration's Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, which provided young immigrants who arrived in the United States as children a legal way to live in the country on re-applicable two-year stays. The bill, dubbed the Washington Dream Act, would make them eligible for the State Need Grant. These students already qualify for in-state tuition.

The measure's highest hurdle is getting the approval of Senate leader Rodney Tom and his Republican colleagues. A spokesman for the Senate coalition couldn't immediately say what leadership thought of the bill.

Proponents say the average number of college students who can't provide proof of legal residency is about 550 annually in Washington.