Notwithstanding ORS 341.290 (General powers), 352.105 (Mandatory incidental fees) or 353.050 (Powers and duties of board and university officials), a current foster child or former foster child under 25 years of age who is 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 who is a current foster child or former foster child 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, a current foster child or former foster child must complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid 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 (Oregon Opportunity Grant program) 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 Education and Training Grant vouchers (P.L. 107-133).
(5)
As used in this section:
(a)
“Former foster child” means an individual who, for a total of six or more months while between 14 and 21 years of age, was:
(A)
A ward of the court pursuant to ORS 419B.100 (Jurisdiction) (1)(b) to (e), in the legal custody of the Department 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 the Indian Child Welfare Act (25 U.S.C. 1901 et seq.), under the jurisdiction of a tribal court for out-of-home placement and not dismissed from care before reaching 16 years of age.