Requires the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to work with Portland State University and community colleges to establish a post-secondary program for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

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83rd OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2025 Regular Session
A-Engrossed
Senate Bill 977
Ordered by the Senate April 14
Including Senate Amendments dated April 14
Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION
SUMMARY
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject
to consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor’s brief statement of the essential features of the
measure. The statement includes a measure digest written in compliance with applicable readability standards.
Digest: Tells the HECC to create a college program for youth with certain disabilities.
Sets forth the needs for the program. Gives money to the HECC for the program. Declares
an emergency and takes effect on July 1, 2025. (Flesch Readability Score: 68.0).
[Digest: Tells the HECC to create a college program for youth with certain disabilities. Sets forth
the needs for the program. Gives money to the HECC for the program. Creates a task force to look into
possible law changes to improve the experience of students with certain disabilities. Ends the task force
on January 2, 2028. Declares an emergency and takes effect on July 1, 2025. (Flesch Readability Score:
60.4).]
Requires the Higher Education Coordinating Commission to work with Portland State Univer-
sity and community colleges to establish a post-secondary program for youth with intellectual and
developmental disabilities. Specifies the requirements of the program.
Appropriates moneys to the commission for allocation to Portland State University to support
the Career and Community Studies program.
Appropriates moneys to the commission for allocation to community colleges that participate in
establishing a program for youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
[Establishes the Task Force on Ensuring Post-Secondary Educational Opportunities for Individuals
with Disabilities for the purpose of investigating whether statutory changes would improve the experi-
ence and outcomes of students with disabilities. ]
[Sunsets the task force on January 2, 2028. ]
Declares an emergency, effective July 1, 2025.
A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to post-secondary education for individuals with disabilities; and declaring an emergency.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
SECTION 1.
(1) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission shall work with Portland
State University and community colleges operated under ORS chapter 341 to establish a
program that provides a full post-secondary educational experience for youth with intellec-
tual and developmental disabilities.
(2) The program established under subsection (1) of this section shall:
(a) Establish and plan for the expansion of an individualized model of support that pro-
vides the opportunity to learn and succeed within a community college experience to youth
with intellectual and developmental disabilities who enroll in a two-year program at partic-
ipating community colleges;
(b) Ensure that youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities who complete a
two-year program at participating community colleges have the option to complete their
studies in the nondegree prebaccalaureate Career and Community Studies program at
Portland State University;
(c) Provide individualized support for youth with intellectual and developmental disabili-
NOTE: Matter in boldfaced type in an amended section is new; matter [ italic and bracketed] is existing law to be omitted.
New sections are in boldfaced type.
LC 1298
A-Eng. SB 977
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ties across inclusive academic, employment and social engagement activities at the campus
of each participating community college and at Portland State University;
(d) Include, to the degree possible, partnership with community stakeholders and
nonprofit organizations to provide needed employment and community living supports to
youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities;
(e) Prepare youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities for post-graduation
outcomes, including pathways to employment that are aligned with career goals and that
promote independent living and engagement within neighborhoods and communities;
(f) Support the commitment of community college and public university faculty to es-
tablish instructional routines that serve a full range of learners through a focused universal
design for learning; and
(g) Support equitable access to an inclusive college experience for youth with intellectual
and developmental disabilities by encouraging undergraduate students and graduate students
to serve as academic coaches, peer navigators and career counselors for youth with intel-
lectual and developmental disabilities.
(3) As used in this section, “youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities” means
individuals between 16 and 26 years of age with an intellectual or developmental disability
who:
(a) Require modifications to the standard academic curriculum in order to successfully
engage in coursework, integrated supported employment and social activities; and
(b)(A) Enroll in the nondegree prebaccalaureate Career and Community Studies program
at Portland State University; or
(B) Enroll at a community college in a two-year program that is developed under this
section.
SECTION 2.
In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropri-
ated to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, for the biennium beginning July 1,
2025, out of the General Fund, the amount of $600,000, to be allocated to Portland State
University for the support of the Career and Community Studies program, including the ac-
ademic support, job development and employment services components of the program.
SECTION 3. In addition to and not in lieu of any other appropriation, there is appropri-
ated to the Higher Education Coordinating Commission, for the biennium beginning July 1,
2025, out of the General Fund, the amount of $900,000, to be allocated to community colleges
that participate in establishing the program for youth with intellectual and developmental
disabilities described in section 1 of this 2025 Act.
SECTION 4. This 2025 Act being necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
peace, health and safety, an emergency is declared to exist, and this 2025 Act takes effect
on July 1, 2025.
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