Oregon Senate OKs help for Guard members in college

The Oregon Senate voted unanimously Monday to pass Senate Bill 1557, helping men and women serving in Oregon’s National Guard who are attending college. The bill amends current law to allow college students who are called up to serve the state for 30 days or less to retake classes without additional cost.

“We rely on our Oregon National Guard members to serve our state in times of need,” said Senator Kim Thatcher (R-Keizer), a chief sponsor of the bill. “This bill will ensure that these soldiers aren’t penalized for missing school days while in service to our state.”

The legislative concept was recommended by an Oregon National Guard captain who had several of his soldiers, currently enrolled in public universities, be called to training or other functions of the state.

Occasionally, these duties coincide with mid-terms and finals, and the soldiers would be required to repay for those classes. Current law allows college students serving in the military to retake classes without additional cost only when they were called up for 30 days or more.

SB 1557 is supported by the Oregon Enlisted Association and has broad bipartisan support, its backers say