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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
Senate Bill 738
Sponsored by Senator GELSER BLOUIN, Representative RUIZ; Senators PATTERSON, REYNOLDS, Represen-
tatives MCINTIRE, SCHARF, SOSA (Presession filed.)
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.The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability
standards.
Digest: The Act makes changes to the requirements for foster children to get a tuition waiver.
(Flesch Readability Score:61.8).
Changes the age limit and the required period during which certain foster children were in care
to be eligible to receive tuition waivers.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to waiver of tuition for qualified students; amending ORS 350.300.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1. ORS 350.300 is amended to read:
350.300. (1) Notwithstanding ORS 341.290, 352.105 or 353.050, a student who is a current foster
child, former foster child or adopted former foster child or a current homeless youth or former
homeless youth, under [25] 40 years of age and enrolled in courses totaling one or more credit hours
at an institution of higher education as an undergraduate student shall have the amount of tuition
and all fees levied against the student waived if attending an institution of higher education for
purposes of pursuing an initial undergraduate degree.
(2) A student 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 a condition of receiving a tuition waiver for an academic year, if the student is eligible
to file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the student must complete and submit
the application for that academic year.
(4) A waiver of tuition and all fees under subsection (1) of this section may be reduced by the
amount of any federal aid scholarships or grants, an award from the Oregon Opportunity Grant
program established under ORS 348.205 and any other aid received from the institution of higher
education. For the purposes of this subsection, “federal aid scholarships or grants” does not include
Chafee educational and training voucher program grants under 42 U.S.C. 677.
(5) As used in this section:
(a) “Adopted former foster child” means an individual who, for a total of six or more months,
was:
(A) 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 prior to becoming an adopted child; or
(B) An Indian child subject to ORS 419B.600 to 419B.654, under the jurisdiction of a tribal court
for out-of-home placement prior to becoming an adopted child.
(b) “Former foster child” means an individual who, for a total of six or more months while be-
tween 14 and 21 years of age or 18 or more months while between 10 and 21 years of age, was:
NOTE:Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 1495 SB738
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(A) A ward of the court pursuant to ORS 419B.100 (1)(b) to (e), in the legal custody of the De-
partment of Human Services for out-of-home placement [and not dismissed from care before reaching
16 years of age]; or
(B) An Indian child subject to ORS 419B.600 to 419B.654, under the jurisdiction of a tribal court
for out-of-home placement [and not dismissed from care before reaching 16 years of age].
(c) “Homeless youth” means a person who:
(A) Experienced homelessness for a total of six or more months while between 14 and 24 years
of age;
(B) While experiencing homelessness as described in subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, re-
ceived services from an organization contracted by the Department of Human Services to provide
services to homeless persons or from a host home, as defined by the department by rule; and
(C) Was at least 16 years of age when the person last received the services described in sub-
paragraph (B) of this paragraph.
(d) “Institution of higher education” means:
(A) A public university listed in ORS 352.002;
(B) A community college operated under ORS chapter 341; or
(C) The Oregon Health and Science University.
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