(1) The Director of the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development may issue certificates for passing approved high school equivalency tests such as the General Educational Development (GED) test to persons who demonstrate satisfactory performance in tests prescribed under subsection (2) of this section or meet the requirements of any prescribed evaluative procedure.

(2) The Higher Education Coordinating Commission by rule may prescribe tests and other appropriate evaluation procedures for the purposes of subsection (1) of this section and may establish age, residence and other relevant qualifications for applicants.

(3) The Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development may utilize its personnel and facilities for the administration of this section, and the commission may establish by rule a nonrefundable application fee. The fee may be waived by the commission in case of hardship.

(4) Subject to prior approval of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services, the fee established under subsection (3) of this section shall not exceed the cost of administering the program, as authorized by the Legislative Assembly within the office’s budget, as the budget may be modified by the Emergency Board.

(5) All moneys received under this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development and shall be used exclusively for administration of this section. The Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development shall keep a record of all moneys deposited in such account. The record shall indicate by separate cumulative accounts the source from which the moneys are derived and the individual activity against which each withdrawal is charged.

(6) The Director of the Office of Community Colleges and Workforce Development shall consult with the Superintendent of Public Instruction on all matters related to evaluation procedures used to measure equivalent achievement under this section. The superintendent is authorized to make independent recommendations on evaluation procedures to the office in those cases where the superintendent’s judgment differs from that of the director. [Formerly 351.768; 2017 c.66 § 21; 2023 c.602 § 4]