(1) In addition to any other financial aid provided by law, the Oregon Student Assistance Commission, pursuant to rule, may award loans to a qualified resident of this state upon the resident’s acceptance and entry into a baccalaureate or associate degree nursing program at a post-secondary institution in Oregon. The loans may be forgiven upon fulfillment of the requirements of subsection (4) of this section.
(2) The loans authorized by subsection (1) of this section:
(a) Shall be made based on achievement, ability, need and motivation;
(b) Shall be made on an annual basis subject to renewal upon satisfactory performance for the duration of the nursing program; and
(c) Shall be made in annual amounts not to exceed 50 percent of the sum of tuition, fees and room and board for each participating student.
(3) Priority in awarding loans shall be given to:
(a) A resident employed in the health care field at the time of application; and
(b) A resident who agrees to practice in an area where there is a critical shortage of nurses, as determined annually by the Oregon State Board of Nursing in consultation with the Office of Rural Health.
(4) The resident receiving a loan under this section must agree to practice nursing at least half-time in an area described in subsection (3)(b) of this section or in an area of specialty that is underserved for one calendar year for each academic year for which the loan is received. If the resident does not fulfill the practice requirement within five years of graduation, the amount received shall be considered a loan, repayable as provided in ORS 348.117, for each year for which the practice requirement is not met. [1991 c.947 §16; 1993 c.765 §51; 1999 c.704 §10; 2001 c.599 §4]
Note: 348.115 is repealed July 1, 2012. See section 8, chapter 599, Oregon Laws 2001.
Section: Previous 348.050 348.060 348.070 348.080 348.090 348.095 348.105 348.115 348.117 348.120 348.125 348.130 348.135 348.180 348.183 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008