(a) "Education employer" means a public charter school, a school district, a tribal college, a community college or university, as defined in 20 U.S.C. 1059c(b)(3), as in effect on September 25, 2021, and any other governmental agency within this state that employs a teacher or a school nurse, as defined in ORS 336.204, in a full-time capacity which, for the purposes of this paragraph, means including within the calculation of full-time equivalent work hours every hour in which the teacher or school nurse engages in instruction and at least 3.35 additional hours for each hour of instruction.
(b) "Public service loan forgiveness program" means the program under which the United States Secretary of Education cancels the balance of interest and principal due on eligible federal direct loans in accordance with the criteria specified under 20 U.S.C. 1087e(m) and 34 C.F.R. 685.219, both as in effect on September 25, 2021.
(2)(a) An education employer shall provide all employees who qualify for a public service loan forgiveness program with materials and assistance that:
(A) Increases awareness of the public service loan forgiveness program among eligible employees of the education employer; and
(B) Increases participation by employees in the public service loan forgiveness program.
(b) Materials described in paragraph (a) of this subsection may include, but are not limited to:
(A) Announcements and advertisements in an education employer’s official publications and in any electronic mail or social media messages the education employer sends to employees;
(B) Inserts or other messages in employee paychecks or payment instruments, to the extent practicable; or
(C) Other periodic reminders in communications to employees.
(c) An education employer shall direct an employee, as part of the employee’s official duties, to become familiar with eligibility requirements, application procedures and other information about the public service loan forgiveness program and to provide assistance to other employees who request assistance with determining the employees’ eligibility for and applications to the public service loan forgiveness program. [2021 c.261 §2]