71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 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 806
 
                         House Bill 2176
 
Ordered printed by the Speaker pursuant to House Rule 12.00A (5).
  Presession filed (at the request of Governor John A. Kitzhaber,
  M.D., for Oregon Military Department)
 
 
                             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.
 
  Modifies Oregon National Guard tuition waiver program.
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to tuition waivers; amending ORS 399.275 and 399.280;
  and repealing ORS 399.285 and 399.290.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. ORS 399.275 is amended to read:
  399.275. (1) Subject to the availability of funds,  { + the
Oregon Military Department may contract with the Oregon Student
Assistance Commission to:
  (a) Disburse to public post-secondary institutions of higher
education the dollar amount of tuition waivers authorized by this
section and approved for payment by the department; and
  (b) Provide to the department a compilation of the total dollar
amount of the tuition waivers approved for each academic term
included in the contract.
  (2) The department shall regularly provide to the commission
the names of members of the Oregon National Guard for whom
tuition waivers may be approved.
  (3) + } Any member of the Oregon National Guard who registers
for classes at a public post-secondary institution of higher
education may receive a tuition waiver of up to 90 percent of the
resident tuition charges imposed by that institution. A member of
the Oregon National Guard may receive the tuition waiver
authorized by this section at any time if the member maintains
satisfactory performance with the Oregon National Guard and
pursues a course of study in the public post-secondary
institution of higher education in a manner that satisfies the
usual requirements of the institution.
    { - (2) - }   { + (4) + } When determining to whom the
tuition waivers shall be granted, priority shall be given to
those members of the Oregon National Guard who have previously
received tuition waivers while serving in the Oregon National
Guard. The   { - Oregon Military - } department shall apply
qualifications and limitations to the tuition waiver program that
are consistent with efficient and effective program management as
determined by the Adjutant General.
  SECTION 2. ORS 399.280 is amended to read:
 
  399.280. (1) The tuition waiver program described in ORS
399.270 to 399.290 shall not be available to any member of the
Oregon National Guard who has a baccalaureate degree.
  (2) A member of the Oregon National Guard may obtain only one
undergraduate degree under the tuition waiver program established
by ORS 399.270 to 399.290. Only courses that meet degree
requirements shall be approved for tuition waivers. A member of
the Oregon National Guard shall not receive a tuition waiver for
any noncredit course.
  (3) If a member of the Oregon National Guard voluntarily
withdraws from a course for which the member is receiving a
tuition waiver, the member is liable for all costs relating to
withdrawal, including but not limited to, all the costs billed by
the public post-secondary institution of higher education to the
Oregon Military Department.
  (4) A member of the Oregon National Guard with no prior
military service must complete basic military training, military
occupational specialty training or skill-level training prior to
being eligible for tuition waivers under ORS 399.270 to 399.290.
 { +  However, the Adjutant General may waive this requirement if
the Adjutant General determines that a tuition waiver would be in
the interests of the Oregon National Guard. + }
  (5) A member of the Oregon National Guard who receives tuition
waivers under ORS 399.270 to 399.290 shall agree in writing to
serve in the Oregon National Guard for four years after the
completion of the courses for which tuition waivers were given. A
member who receives tuition waivers may be asked to reimburse the
State of Oregon if the member leaves the Oregon National Guard
during the four-year period.
  (6) The Oregon Military Department shall retain the
responsibility and authority to establish any limitations and
controls it considers necessary to ensure maximum fiscal
efficiency and productivity of the tuition waiver program
established by ORS 399.270 to 399.290.
  SECTION 3.  { + ORS 399.285 and 399.290 are repealed. + }
                         ----------