Signed by Governor John Kitzhaber

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that exempts undocumented immigrants and veterans who meet certain requirements from paying nonresident tuition at public Oregon universities, effective July 1, 2013.

Highlights:

• Requires the State Board of Higher Education to exempt students who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States from paying nonresident tuition and fees for enrollment in a public university if the student meets the following requirements (Sec. 2):
• Attended school in Oregon for the 3 years immediately prior to receiving a high school diploma;
• Attended school in any state or territory of the United States for the 5 years immediately prior to receiving a high school diploma;
• Received a high school diploma or the equivalent in the state no more than 3 years before initially enrolling in a public university; and
• Shows intention to become a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

• Requires the student to submit to the public university the following documents as proof of intention to become a citizen or lawful permanent resident (Sec. 2):
• An official copy of the student’s application to register with the federal immigration program or federal deportation deferral program, or a statement of intent that the student will seek to obtain citizenship as permitted under federal law; and
• An affidavit stating that the student has applied for a federal individual taxpayer identification number or other official federal identification document.

• Specifies that students who have resided outside of the state for more than 3 years while serving in the Armed Forces, but who otherwise meet the requirements of resident tuition, qualify for resident tuition at a public Oregon university without having to reestablish Oregon residency (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Oregon University System to annually report the number of students that applied and were accepted into public universities under this bill and the financial impact that this bill has on the Oregon University System (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies the provisions of the bill first apply to the 2013-2014 school year (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that exempts undocumented immigrants and veterans who meet certain requirements from paying nonresident tuition at public Oregon universities, effective July 1, 2013.

Highlights:

• Requires the State Board of Higher Education to exempt students who are not citizens or lawful permanent residents of the United States from paying nonresident tuition and fees for enrollment in a public university if the student meets the following requirements (Sec. 2):
• Attended school in Oregon for the 3 years immediately prior to receiving a high school diploma;
• Attended school in any state or territory of the United States for the 5 years immediately prior to receiving a high school diploma;
• Received a high school diploma or the equivalent in the state no more than 3 years before initially enrolling in a public university; and
• Shows intention to become a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.

• Requires the student to submit to the public university the following documents as proof of intention to become a citizen or lawful permanent resident (Sec. 2):
• An official copy of the student’s application to register with the federal immigration program or federal deportation deferral program, or a statement of intent that the student will seek to obtain citizenship as permitted under federal law; and
• An affidavit stating that the student has applied for a federal individual taxpayer identification number or other official federal identification document.

• Specifies that students who have resided outside of the state for more than 3 years while serving in the Armed Forces, but who otherwise meet the requirements of resident tuition, qualify for resident tuition at a public Oregon university without having to reestablish Oregon residency (Sec. 2).

• Requires the Oregon University System to annually report the number of students that applied and were accepted into public universities under this bill and the financial impact that this bill has on the Oregon University System (Sec. 2). 

• Specifies the provisions of the bill first apply to the 2013-2014 school year (Sec. 4).

Full Bill Text