Legislative Briefs

Credit transfers

SB 76 and SB 223 

What it does: In 2011, the Legislature passed House Bill 3521 to develop the Transfer Student Bill of Rights and Responsibilities to resolve credit transfer issues. To further streamline the transfer between Oregon’s community colleges and public universities, in 2017 the Legislature passed House Bill 2998, which directed the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to bring together community colleges and universities to establish processes for easier student transfer into specified public university major programs. Senate Bill 76 would add standards for minimizing the complexity of transfer agreements, developing processes for resolving requests for variances, and providing assistance in aligning the credits earned through dual credit programs. Senate Bill 223 would require the HECC to establish a common course numbering system for all introductory and lower-level courses offered at public post-secondary institutions. In addition, it would require those institutions to adopt the numbering system and accept the transfers of academic credit earned at other public post-secondary institutions.

What’s next: The Senate Education Committee will hold a public hearing on both bills Monday, March 1.

Homeless youth

HB 2544 

What it does: During the 2014-15 school year, Oregon school districts counted 3,232 unaccompanied homeless students, according to a 2016 report from the Department of Human Services Homeless Youth Advisory Committee. House Bill 2544 would allocate $2 million to the DHS to provide additional grant money to organizations with an existing DHS grant that provides services to unaccompanied homeless youths and $2.4 million to DHS to provide additional grants that support long- and short-term housing for unaccompanied homeless youths.

What’s next: The House Human Services Committee will hold a public hearing Monday, March 1.