(1) A nurse or prospective nurse applicant who is a graduate of an accredited nursing program with a baccalaureate or associate degree and who wishes to participate in the Nursing Services Program established under ORS 442.540 shall agree that:
(a) For each year of nursing school, the applicant designates an agreed amount, not to exceed $8,800 or the amount determined under subsection (2) of this section, as a qualifying loan for the program.
(b) In the four years following the execution of a Nursing Services Program agreement with the Oregon Student Assistance Commission, a nurse agrees to practice for at least two full years in a nursing critical shortage area in Oregon.
(c) For not less than two nor more than four years that the nurse practices in a nursing critical shortage area, the commission shall annually pay:
(A) For full-time practice, an amount equal to 25 percent of the total of all qualifying loans made to the nurse.
(B) For half-time practice, an amount equal to 12.5 percent of the total of all qualifying loans made to the nurse.
(d) If the nurse does not complete the full service obligation set forth in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this subsection, the commission shall collect 100 percent of any payments made by the commission to the nurse under the Nursing Services Program. In addition, the commission shall assess against the nurse a penalty equal to 50 percent of the qualifying loans and interest paid by the commission.
(2)(a) On July 1 of each year, beginning in 2002 and ending in 2007, the Oregon Student Assistance Commission shall adjust the maximum dollar amount allowed under subsection (1)(a) of this section as a qualifying loan by multiplying the amount by a cost-of-living adjustment as specified in this subsection.
(b) The cost-of-living adjustment applied on July 1 each year by the commission shall be equal to the ratio of the seasonally adjusted United States City Average Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers as published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the United States Department of Labor for April of the calendar year divided by the value of the same index for April 2001.
(c) Beginning on July 1, 2008, the commission shall use the cost-of-living adjustment calculated for July 1, 2007.
(d) If the value of the dollar amount determined under paragraph (a) of this subsection is not a multiple of $100, the commission shall round the dollar amount to the next lower multiple of $100. [2001 c.599 §3]
Note: See note under 442.535.
Section: Previous 442.505 442.507 442.515 442.520 442.525 442.535 442.540 442.545 442.550 442.555 442.560 442.561 442.562 442.563 442.564 NextLast modified: August 7, 2008