Chapter 20 Oregon Laws 2010 Special Session

AN ACT

HB 3702

Relating to eligibility of students for grants awarded by the Oregon Student Assistance Commission; amending ORS 348.250; and declaring an emergency.

Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:

SECTION 1. ORS 348.250 is amended to read:

          348.250. (1) Grants established under ORS 348.230 and 348.260 shall be awarded by the Oregon Student Assistance Commission in the manner provided in this section.

          (2) Persons interested in obtaining a grant established under ORS 348.230 and 348.260 may apply to the commission for a grant.

          (3) The commission shall screen or cause to be screened the applications and shall determine for each available grant the person best qualified to receive that grant. A qualified applicant is eligible to receive a grant established under ORS 348.230 and 348.260 if:

          (a) The applicant’s financial need is such that in the opinion of the commission financial aid is warranted; and

          (b) The applicant plans to be a student at the eligible post-secondary institution where the grant is to be used.

          (4) The commission shall not discriminate for or against any applicant for a grant.

          (5) Nothing in ORS 348.210 to 348.260, 348.505 to 348.615, 348.696 and 348.992 shall be construed to require any institution to admit a grant recipient or to attempt to control or influence the policies of the institution.

          (6) Whenever funds are not available to award grants to all qualified students, the commission [shall] may give priority to applicants who are or plan to be full-time students at the eligible post-secondary institution where the grant is to be used. A student shall be considered to be a full-time student if the combination of credit hours at more than one eligible post-secondary institution equals full-time attendance, according to the institution disbursing the grant funds.

          (7) As used in this section, “discriminate” has the meaning given “discrimination” in ORS 659.850.

SECTION 2. This 2010 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2010 Act takes effect on its passage.

Approved by the Governor March 4, 2010

Filed in the office of Secretary of State March 4, 2010

Effective date March 4, 2010

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