SALEM – As of Jan. 1, drunken drivers face stiffer penalties, foster children will receive tuition waivers to attend the state’s colleges and universities, and some retired health care workers can pitch in during a state emergency.

Dozens of changes in state law took effect Sunday.

In the 2011 legislative session, the Oregon House was evenly split, with 30 Republicans and 30 Democrats, for the first time in the state’s history. The split, many said, mandated bipartisan work and resulted in fewer extreme bills becoming law. There were, however, more than 400 bills passed, hitting a variety of topics, and dozens of them will become law New Year’s Day.

Drunken drivers will face heftier fines and penalties. The fine for a driver convicted of driving under the influence of intoxicants will increase from $130 to $230, and the cost of the diversion program jumps from $261 to $361. To enter the diversion program, a driver will now be required to install an ignition interlock device that would prevent the car from starting if the person’s blood-alcohol content is above the legal limit.

Lawmakers also tightened regulations on the use of handheld cell phones. Now, unless a driver is in an emergency situation and calling for help, or is driving a roadside assistance vehicle or tow truck, he or she cannot make calls without using hands-free technology.

The new laws also will affect both those working to launch their careers and those at the other end.

People under 25 who are in or have been in the state’s foster care program can attend any of the state’s seven public universities or community colleges without paying tuition.

Senate Majority Leader Diane Rosenbaum, D-Portland, said in a statement in June, after the bill passed the Senate, that nearly 400 teenagers come out of Oregon’s foster care system every year.

“Many don’t have the family structure or emotional support to help them make the transition to college, and the costs associated are unrealistic,” she said.

On the other end of the spectrum, retired medical professionals who have been licensed within the past 10 years can participate in the Oregon Public Health Emergency Preparedness Program and register to volunteer if the governor declares an emergency in the state.

The bill is intended to help more isolated communities, Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, said in April, when the bill passed.

The minimum wage will increase by 30 cents to $8.80 an hour.

People who make $125,000 or more will pay about $1,100 dollars less in state income tax than they did in 2011. Their taxes will still be higher than they were before voters approved Measure 66, in January 2010, which increased taxes on the state’s wealthiest. The decrease was part of the referendum.

New laws should make it easier for those seeking woody biomass. Under a new law, the state’s forester is expected to take stock of what type of woody biomass is available on state forestland. The information is then expected to be made available for those interested in energy development using the debris.

Several programs will be extended the first of the year, such as the state’s enterprise zone program. The goal of the program is to lure businesses to economically depressed areas by offering tax exemptions.