75th OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2009 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 2720
A-Engrossed
House Bill 2756
Ordered by the House April 30
Including House Amendments dated April 30
Sponsored by Representatives BUCKLEY, KOMP, BAILEY;
Representative RICHARDSON
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.
Establishes higher education scholarship program to reward
foreign language proficiency and encourage continued improvement
in foreign language proficiency.
Establishes Oregon Roadmap to Language Excellence Fund.
Continuously appropriates moneys in fund to Oregon Student
Assistance Commission for purposes of scholarship awards.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to higher education scholarships for language
proficiency; creating new provisions; amending ORS 348.180 and
348.570; and appropriating money.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. { + (1) In addition to any other form of student
financial aid authorized by law, the Oregon Student Assistance
Commission may award, to the extent funds are made available, an
Oregon Roadmap to Language Excellence Scholarship to a qualified
student.
(2) The Oregon Student Assistance Commission may:
(a) Award an initial Oregon Roadmap to Language Excellence
Scholarship for up to $2,000 to a qualified student who:
(A) Is a United States citizen or a noncitizen legally residing
in the United States;
(B) Has received a diploma from a high school in this state or
the equivalent during the academic year prior to the award of the
initial scholarship;
(C) Is attending an eligible post-secondary institution;
(D) Is pursuing an Associate of Arts or more advanced degree;
and
(E) Demonstrates proficiency in speaking, reading and writing
in a natural, human-based language other than English, excluding
computer-based languages, musical notation and Esperanto.
(b) Award a subsequent Oregon Roadmap to Language Excellence
Scholarship for up to $2,000 to a student receiving a scholarship
under paragraph (a) of this subsection who has demonstrated a
measurable gain of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing
skills in the same language for which the scholarship was awarded
during the previous academic year.
(c) Award a reduced subsequent Oregon Roadmap to Language
Excellence Scholarship to a student receiving a scholarship under
paragraph (a) of this subsection who has not demonstrated a
measurable gain of proficiency in speaking, reading and writing
skills in the same language for which the scholarship was awarded
during the previous academic year. The reduced scholarship is for
$500 less than the amount of the scholarship awarded the previous
academic year. The commission may not award a reduced subsequent
scholarship for consecutive academic years.
(3) The maximum amount of scholarships awarded to a person
under this section may not exceed $8,000.
(4) The commission may award scholarships under this section to
a person for the year of the initial scholarship and the next
three consecutive years.
(5) The commission may not award scholarships under this
section to a student who is enrolled in a course of study
required for and leading to a degree in theology, divinity or
religious education.
(6) The commission shall adopt rules:
(a) Establishing priority for Oregon Roadmap to Language
Excellence Scholarships when funds are not available to award
scholarships to all qualified students.
(b) Setting standards for appropriate levels of language
proficiency and improved language proficiency needed for eligible
students to qualify for scholarships under this section.
(c) Choosing an assessment method for measuring language
proficiency in speaking, reading and writing for the purposes of
paragraph (b) of this subsection. The assessment method must
comply with the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign
Languages proficiency guidelines, and must measure only
Intermediate-Mid level language skills and higher. + }
SECTION 2. ORS 348.180 is amended to read:
348.180. As used in this section and ORS { - 348.183, - }
348.186, 348.205, 348.230, 348.250 and 348.260 { + and section 1
of this 2009 Act + }:
(1) 'Cost of education' includes but is not limited to,
tuition, fees and living expenses.
(2) 'Eligible post-secondary institution' means:
(a) A state institution under the direction of the State Board
of Higher Education;
(b) A community college operated under ORS chapter 341;
(c) The Oregon Health and Science University; or
(d) An Oregon-based, generally accredited, not-for-profit
institution of higher education.
(3) 'Qualified student' means any resident student who plans to
attend an eligible post-secondary institution and who:
(a) Has not achieved a baccalaureate or higher degree from any
post-secondary institution;
(b) Is enrolled in an eligible program as defined by rule of
the Oregon Student Assistance Commission; and
(c) Is making satisfactory academic progress as defined by rule
of the commission.
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
the next biennium.
(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 a fund,
separate and distinct from the General Fund, to be known as the
Oregon Roadmap to Language Excellence Fund. Moneys in the fund
are continuously appropriated to the Oregon Student Assistance
Commission for the purposes described in section 1 of this 2009
Act.
(b) The fund shall consist of:
(A) Moneys appropriated to the Oregon Student Assistance
Commission for deposit into the fund; and
(B) Any donations or grants received by the commission for the
purposes described in section 1 of this 2009 Act.
(c) Interest earned by the fund shall be credited to the
fund. + }
----------