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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
Regular Session, 2010
SENATE BILL NO. 182
BY SENATORS N. GAUTREAUX, ADLEY, APPEL, DONAHUE, DORSEY,
DUPLESSIS, LONG, MARIONNEAUX, MURRAY, NEVERS, RISER
AND SHAW AND REPRESENTATIVES EDWARDS, ELLINGTON,
GISCLAIR, KATZ, MCVEA, MONICA AND SCHRODER
TOPS. Provides for certain awards and payments from the Tuition Opportunity Program for
Students for Louisiana National Guardsmen. (gov sig)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3048.1(O)(1), (2) and (3), relative to the Taylor Opportunity2
Program for Students; to provide for certain awards and payments for Louisiana3
National Guardsmen; and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 17:3048.1(O)(1), (2) and (3) are hereby amended and reenacted to6
read as follows: 7
ยง3048.1. Program awards; eligibility; amounts; limitations; funding; administration8
* * *9
O. In lieu of the payment of tuition as provided in this Section, any student10
participating in the program provided by R.S. 29:36.1 for persons serving in the11
Louisiana National Guard shall receive the tuition exemption as provided therein.12
However, in addition to any other payments provided for by this Section:13
(1) For any student who is participating in the tuition exemption program14
provided by R.S. 29:36.1 and who also meets the qualifications provided in this15
Section for receipt of an Opportunity Award or a TOPS-Tech Award, the state shall16
pay on behalf of such student a sum of not more than one three hundred fifty dollars17 SB NO. 182
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
per semester or three six hundred dollars per academic year for the actual to be1
applied toward the cost of books and other instructional materials.2
(2) For any student who is participating in the tuition exemption program3
provided by R.S. 29:36.1 and who also meets the qualifications provided in this4
Section for receipt of a Performance Award, the state shall pay on behalf of the5
student a sum of not more than one three hundred fifty dollars per semester or three6
six hundred dollars per academic year for the actual to be applied toward the cost7
of books and other instructional materials plus the sum of two four hundred dollars8
per semester or four eight hundred dollars per academic year for other educational9
expenses as defined by the Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission.10
(3) For any student who is participating in the tuition exemption program11
provided by R.S. 29:36.1 and who also meets the qualifications provided in this12
Section for receipt of an Honors Award, the state shall pay on behalf of the student13
a sum of not more than one three hundred fifty dollars per semester or three six14
hundred dollars per academic year for the actual to be applied toward the cost of15
books and other instructional materials plus the sum of four eight hundred dollars16
per semester or eight one thousand six hundred dollars per academic year for other17
educational expenses as defined by the Louisiana Student Financial Assistance18
Commission.19
* * *20
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not21
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature22
by the governor, as provided in Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If23
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become24
effective on the day following such approval.25 SB NO. 182
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
The original instrument was prepared by Heyward Jeffers. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by Nancy Vicknair.
DIGEST
N. Gautreaux (SB 182)
Present law provides that in lieu of the payment of tuition pursuant to the Taylor Opportunity
Program for Students (TOPS), any student participating in the tuition exemption program
for persons serving in the Louisiana National Guard shall receive such tuition exemption.
Provides additionally, however, for the payment of a sum on behalf of eligible National
Guardsmen for whom also meet the minimum qualifications for receipt of a TOPS Award
as follows:
(1)Opportunity Award: sum of not more than $150 per semester or $300 per academic
year for the actual cost of books and other instructional materials.
(2)Performance Award: sum of not more than $150 per semester or $300 per academic
year for the actual cost of books and other instructional materials and an additional
sum of $200 per semester or $400 per academic year for certain other educational
expenses.
(3)Honors Award: sum of not more than $150 per semester or $300 per academic year
for the actual cost of books and other instructional material, plus an additional sum
of $400 per semester or $800 per academic year for certain other educational
expenses.
Proposed law retains payments for National Guardsmen for the educational expenses as
provided in present law, but doubles the amounts of such payments as follows:
(1)For those who qualify for any award level (Opportunity, TOPS-Tech, Performance,
or Honors): a sum of $300 per semester or $600 per academic year to be applied
toward the cost of books and other instructional materials.
(2)For certain other educational expenses for those who qualify for a Performance
Award: an additional sum of $400 per semester or $800 per academic year.
(3)For certain other education expenses for those who qualify for an Honors Award: an
additional sum of $800 per semester or $1600 per academic year.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:3048.1(O)(1),(2) and (3))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the
original bill.
1. Adds TOPS-Tech Award recipients to the groups eligible to receive the
additional payments.
2. Provides that payments of $300 per semester or $600 per academic year
received by students in the tuition exemption program be applied toward the
cost of books and instructional materials.