SLS 10RS-694 ORIGINAL Page 1 of 3 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. 486 BY SENATOR NEVERS TOPS. Allows an alternative eligibility requirement of attainment of the WorkKeys silver level score, in lieu of the minimum ACT score required of students for a TOPS-Tech Award. (7/1/10) AN ACT1 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3048.1(B)(2)(a)(ii), relative to the Taylor Opportunity2 Program for Students; to provide for the eligibility of certain students to receive a3 TOPS-Tech Award; to provide for alternative eligibility requirements; to provide4 relative to minimum scores on specified tests that are required of students to be5 eligible for a TOPS-Tech Award; to provide for effectiveness; to provide for an6 effective date; and to provide for related matters.7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8 Section 1. R.S. 17:3048.1(B)(2)(a)(ii) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as9 follows: 10 ยง3048.1. Program awards; eligibility; amounts; limitations; funding; administration11 * * *12 B. * * *13 (2) As part of the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, for14 students graduating from high school through the 1999-2000 school year the state15 shall award an amount determined by the administering agency to equal the actual16 cost of tuition of any student who enrolls on a full-time basis in a Louisiana public17 SB NO. 486 SLS 10RS-694 ORIGINAL Page 2 of 3 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. postsecondary institution to pursue skill or occupational training, including a1 vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program or a nonacademic2 undergraduate degree, and who meets the following qualifications and all other3 applicable qualifications of this Chapter and for students graduating from high4 school during the 2000-2001 school year and thereafter the state shall award an5 amount determined by the administering agency in accordance with the provisions6 of Subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph for any student who enrolls on a full-time basis7 in an eligible college or university as defined in Subsection A of this Section to8 pursue skill or occupational training as defined by the Board of Regents, including9 a vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program or a nonacademic10 undergraduate degree, and who meets the following qualifications and all other11 applicable qualifications of this Chapter:12 * * *13 (ii) For any student graduating from high school during the 2000-200114 school year and thereafter, complies with the provisions of Subparagraphs (A)(1)(a)15 and (b) of this Section, except that the student shall have a composite score on the16 specified American College Test of seventeen or higher or an equivalent concordant17 value on any enhanced or revised version of such test or on the Scholastic Aptitude18 Test, and beginning with any student graduating from high school during the19 2010-2011 school year and thereafter, the student may, as an alternative20 requirement, have attained a silver level score on the assessments of the ACT21 WorkKeys system.22 * * *23 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2010; if vetoed by the governor24 and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on July 1,25 2010, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.26 SB NO. 486 SLS 10RS-694 ORIGINAL Page 3 of 3 Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law; words in boldface type and underscored are additions. The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Nancy Vicknair. DIGEST With regard to the TOPS-Tech Award, present law requires a student graduating from high school during the 2000-2001 school year and thereafter to have a composite score on the ACT of 17 or higher or an equivalent condordant value on any enhanced or revised version of such test or on the SAT. Proposed law retains present law requirement, but also includes, as an alternative eligibility requirement, beginning with any student graduating from high school during the 2010-2011 school year and thereafter, the attainment of a silver level score on the assessment of the ACT WorkKeys system. Effective July 1, 2010. (Amends R.S. 17:3048.1(B)(2)(a)(ii))