Bill Text: OR SB243 | 2011 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Relating to higher education.
Sponsorship: Unknown
Status: (Failed) 2011-06-30 - In committee upon adjournment. [SB243 Detail]
Download: Oregon-2011-SB243-Introduced.html
76th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2011 Regular Session
NOTE: Matter within { + braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within { - braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
{ + braces and plus signs + } .
LC 3009
Senate Bill 243
Printed pursuant to Senate Interim Rule 213.28 by order of the
President of the Senate in conformance with presession filing
rules, indicating neither advocacy nor opposition on the part
of the President (at the request of Senate Interim Committee on
Education and General Government for Children First for Oregon)
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure as
introduced.
Requires state institution of higher education, community
college or Oregon Health and Science University to waive tuition
and fees for current or former foster child under 25 years of
age. Expands college scholarship program to include current
foster children.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to higher education; creating new provisions; and
amending ORS 348.270 and 348.570.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + (1) Notwithstanding ORS 341.290, 351.070 (3) or
353.050, a current foster child or former foster child under 25
years of age who enrolls in an institution of higher education as
an undergraduate student not later than three years after the
date the student was removed from the care of the Department of
Human Services, the date the student graduated from high school
or the date the student received the equivalent of a high school
diploma, whichever date is earliest, shall have the amount of
tuition and all fees levied against the student waived if
attending an institution of higher education listed in ORS
352.002, a community college operated under ORS chapter 341 or
Oregon Health and Science University for purposes of pursuing an
initial undergraduate degree.
(2) A student who is a current foster child or former foster
child is entitled to waiver of tuition and all fees under
subsection (1) of this section until the student has received the
equivalent of four years of undergraduate education.
(3) As used in this section, 'former foster child' means an
individual who, for a total of 12 or more months while between 16
and 21 years of age, was a ward of the court pursuant to ORS
419B.100 (1)(b) to (e) and in the legal custody of the Department
of Human Services for out-of-home placement. + }
SECTION 2. ORS 348.270 is amended to read:
348.270. (1) In addition to any other scholarships provided by
law, the Oregon Student Assistance Commission shall award
scholarships in any state institution under the State Board of
Higher Education, in the Oregon Health and Science University, in
any community college operated under ORS chapter 341, or in any
Oregon-based regionally accredited independent institution, to
any student applying for enrollment or who is enrolled therein,
who is:
(a) The natural child, adopted child or stepchild of any public
safety officer who, in the line of duty, was killed or so
disabled, as determined by the Oregon Student Assistance
Commission, that the income of the public safety officer is less
than that earned by public safety officers performing duties
comparable to those performed at the highest rank or grade
attained by the public safety officer; or
(b) A { + current foster child or + } former foster child who
enrolls in an institution of higher education as an undergraduate
student not later than three years from the date the student was
removed from the care of the Department of Human Services, the
date the student graduated from high school or the date the
student received the equivalent of a high school diploma,
whichever date is earliest.
(2) Scholarships awarded under this section to students who are
dependents of public safety officers or who are { + current
foster children or + } former foster children shall equal the
amount of tuition and all fees levied by the institution against
the recipient of the scholarship. However, scholarships awarded
to students who attend independent institutions shall not exceed
the amount of tuition and all fees levied by the University of
Oregon.
(3) If the student who is the dependent of a deceased public
safety officer continues to remain enrolled in a state
institution of higher education or a community college or an
independent institution within the State of Oregon, the student
shall be entitled to renewal of the scholarship until the student
has received the equivalent of four years of undergraduate
education and four years of post-graduate education.
(4) If the student who is a { + current foster child or + }
former foster child or who is the dependent of a public safety
officer with a disability continues to remain enrolled in a state
institution of higher education or a community college or an
independent institution within the State of Oregon, the student
shall be entitled to renewal of the scholarship until the student
has received the equivalent of four years of undergraduate
education.
(5) The Oregon Student Assistance Commission may require proof
of the student's relationship to a public safety officer
described in subsection (1) of this section or proof that the
student is a { + current foster child or + } former foster
child.
(6) As used in this section:
(a) 'Former foster child' means an individual who, for a total
of 12 or more months while between the ages of 16 and 21, was a
ward of the court pursuant to ORS 419B.100 (1)(b) to (e) and in
the legal custody of the Department of Human Services for
out-of-home placement.
(b) 'Public safety officer' means:
(A) A firefighter or police officer as those terms are defined
in ORS 237.610.
(B) A member of the Oregon State Police.
SECTION 3. ORS 348.570 is amended to read:
348.570. (1) There is established in the State Treasury a fund,
separate and distinct from the General Fund, to be known as the
Oregon Student Assistance Fund for investment as provided by ORS
293.701 to 293.820 and for the payment of the expenses of the
Oregon Student Assistance Commission in carrying out the purposes
of ORS 348.210 to 348.250, 348.505 to 348.615, 348.696 and
348.992. Interest earned by the fund shall be credited to the
fund.
(2) There is established in the State Treasury a fund, separate
and distinct from the General Fund, to be known as the
Alternative Student Loan Program Fund for investment as provided
by ORS 293.701 to 293.820 and for the payment of expenses of the
commission in carrying out the purposes of ORS 348.625 to
348.695. This fund, including the interest earnings on the fund,
if any, is continuously appropriated to the commission for those
purposes for which such funds were provided to, received or
collected by the commission.
(3)(a) There is established in the General Fund an account to
be known as the Nursing Services Account. Funds in the account
shall be used for the payment of expenses of the Nursing Services
Program created in ORS 442.540.
(b) The account shall consist of:
(A) Funds appropriated to the Oregon Student Assistance
Commission for deposit into the account;
(B) Collections and penalties received by the commission under
ORS 442.545; and
(C) Any donations or grants received by the commission for
purposes of the Nursing Services Program.
(c) Any funds in the account that are not expended in any
biennium shall be retained in the account and may be expended in
subsequent biennia.
(4) There is established in the State Treasury a fund, separate
and distinct from the General Fund, to be known as the
{ - Former - } Foster Youth Scholarship Fund. Moneys received
from appropriations, donations and grants shall be credited to
the fund. Moneys in the fund are continuously appropriated to the
Oregon Student Assistance Commission for the purposes of
investment, as provided by ORS 293.701 to 293.820, and for
carrying out the provisions of ORS 348.270 (1)(b). Interest
earned by the fund shall be credited to the fund.
(5) There is established in the State Treasury a fund, separate
and distinct from the General Fund, to be known as the ASPIRE
Program Fund. Moneys received from donations and grants shall be
credited to the ASPIRE Program Fund. Moneys in the fund are
continuously appropriated to the Oregon Student Assistance
Commission for the purposes of investment, as provided by ORS
293.701 to 293.820, and for carrying out the provisions of ORS
348.500. Interest earned by the fund shall be credited to the
fund.
(6)(a) There is established in the State Treasury the Nursing
Faculty Loan Repayment Fund, separate and distinct from the
General Fund. Interest earned on the Nursing Faculty Loan
Repayment Fund shall be credited to the fund. Moneys in the fund
are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Student Assistance
Commission for carrying out ORS 348.440 to 348.448. The Nursing
Faculty Loan Repayment Fund consists of:
(A) Moneys appropriated to the commission for the Nursing
Faculty Loan Repayment Program created in ORS 348.444; and
(B) Grants, gifts or donations received by the commission for
the program.
(b) Any unexpended funds in the fund at the end of a biennium
shall be retained in the fund and may be expended in subsequent
biennia.
SECTION 4. { + Section 1 of this 2011 Act and the amendments
to ORS 348.270 and 348.570 by sections 2 and 3 of this 2011 Act
first apply to the 2012-2013 school year. + }
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