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 1619
B-Engrossed
House Bill 2431
Ordered by the House June 11
Including House Amendments dated February 5 and June 11
Ordered printed by the Speaker pursuant to House Rule 12.00A (5).
Presession filed (at the request of Representative Lane
Shetterly for Juvenile Rights Project)
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.
Provides college scholarships for former foster children.
{ - Appropriates moneys from General Fund to Oregon Student
Assistance Commission for scholarships. - }
Declares emergency, effective July 1, 2001.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to scholarships for former foster children; creating new
provisions; amending ORS 348.270 and 348.570; appropriating
money; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. 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 Sciences 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, adopted or stepchild of any public safety
officer who, in line of duty, was killed or so disabled, as
determined by the Oregon Student Assistance Commission, that the
income of the disabled 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
disabled parent { - . - } { + ; or
(b) A 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
State Office for Services to Children and Families, 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 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 the dependent of a disabled public
safety officer { + or who is a former foster child + } 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 deceased or disabled public
safety officer described in subsection (1) of this section { +
or proof that the student is a 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 State Office for Services to Children
and Families for out-of-home placement.
(b) + } 'Public safety officer' means:
{ - (a) - } { + (A) + } A firefighter or police officer as
those terms are defined in ORS 237.610.
{ - (b) - } { + (B) + } A member of the Oregon State
Police.
SECTION 2. 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 Student
Loan Guarantee Fund, which may be invested in the same manner as
the Oregon Student Assistance Fund. This fund shall receive funds
from federal, state or private sources for the purpose of
guarantying payment of loans made by eligible lending
institutions to student residents of the State of Oregon who are
enrolled or accepted for enrollment at any eligible institution,
nonresident students enrolled or accepted for enrollment in an
institution of higher education or community college in Oregon,
and parents of those students, under the provisions of the Higher
Education Act of 1965 as amended and for administrative expenses
of guarantying loans. 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) 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 investments as provided
by ORS 293.701 to 293.820 and the payment of expenses by 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.
{ + (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. + }
SECTION 3. { + Scholarships created by the amendments to ORS
348.270 by section 1 of this 2001 Act shall first be available to
former foster children for use during the 2001-2002 school
year. + }
SECTION 4. { + This 2001 Act being necessary for the immediate
preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency
is declared to exist, and this 2001 Act takes effect July 1,
2001. + }
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