HLS 11RS-786 ENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2011
HOUSE BILL NO. 589
BY REPRESENTATIVES CHANEY AND DOWNS
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
STUDENT/LOANS-SCHOLARSHP: Provides relative to the high school curriculum
required for certain TOPS awards
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(1)(e)(introductory paragraph), (viii) and (x),2
relative to academic standards for a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students award;3
to provide relative to the high school core curriculum requirements for certain4
students to be eligible for an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors award; to provide5
applicability; to provide effectiveness; to provide an effective date; and to provide6
for related matters.7
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:8
Section 1. R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(1)(e)(introductory paragraph), (viii) and (x) are hereby9
amended and reenacted to read as follows: 10
ยง3048.1. Program awards; eligibility; amounts; limitations; funding; administration11
A.(1) As part of the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, the12
state shall financially assist any student who enrolls on a full-time basis in a public13
college or university in this state or a regionally accredited independent college or14
university in the state that is a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent15
Colleges or Universities, hereafter in this Chapter referred to collectively as "eligible16
colleges or universities", to pursue an academic undergraduate degree or, as provided17
by this Subsection, skill or occupational training as defined by the Board of Regents,18
including a vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program or a19
nonacademic undergraduate degree, and who meets the qualifications of20 HLS 11RS-786 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 589
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Subparagraph (b), (c), or (d) of this Paragraph and all of the applicable following1
qualifications:2
* * *3
(e) Except as otherwise provided by this Section and through the 2006-20074
school year, has successfully completed at least sixteen and one-half units of high5
school course work, which constitutes a core curriculum, and meets standards for6
admission to the desired college or university. Except as otherwise provided by this7
Section and beginning with the 2007-2008 school year through the 2012-2013 school8
year, meets standards for admission to the desired college or university and has9
successfully completed at least seventeen and one-half units of high school course10
work as permitted by this Subparagraph, which constitutes a core curriculum.11
Except as otherwise provided by this Section and beginning with the 2013-201412
school year and thereafter, meets the standards for admissions to the desired college13
or university and has successfully completed at least nineteen units of high school14
course work as permitted by this Subparagraph, which constitutes a core curriculum.15
For students qualifying under Subparagraph (A)(1)(c) of this Section, the core16
curriculum requirements of this Subparagraph shall become effective beginning with17
the high school graduating class of the year 1998, except that the core curriculum18
requirement for a Performance Award shall be waived for any student graduating19
during the 1997-1998 school year who is certified as having graduated within the top20
five percent of his graduating class at a Louisiana public high school or nonpublic21
high school which is approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary22
Education. Except as otherwise provided by this Section, the core curriculum shall23
be defined as follows:24
* * *25
(viii) World History, Western Civilization, or World Geography (one unit26
through the 2012-2013 school year); two units beginning with the 2013-2014 school27
year and thereafter) World History, Western Civilization, World Geography, or28 HLS 11RS-786 ENGROSSED
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History of Religion (two units beginning with the 2013-2014 school year and1
thereafter).2
* * *3
(x) Fine Arts Survey (one unit; or through the 2012-2013 school year4
substitute two units of performance courses in music, dance, or theater; or substitute5
two units of visual art courses; or substitute two units of studio art courses; or6
substitute one unit as an elective from among the other subjects listed in this core7
curriculum); beginning with the 2013-2014 school year and thereafter, Fine Arts8
Survey (one unit or substitute one unit of a performance course in music, dance, or9
theater; or substitute one unit of a visual art course; or substitute one unit of a studio10
art course).11
* * *12
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not13
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature14
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If15
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become16
effective on the day following such approval.17
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Chaney HB No. 589
Abstract: Relative to the high school curriculum that certain students must successfully
complete to be eligible for a TOPS Opportunity, Performance, or Honors award,
provides (in addition to other curriculum requirements) that beginning with the 2013-
2014 school year and thereafter the student must take two units of World History,
Western Civilization, World Geography, or History of Religion and take one unit of
Fine Arts Survey (or substitute one unit of a performance course in music, dance,
or theater, or substitute one unit of a visual art course, or substitute one unit of a
studio art course).
Relative to the high school curriculum that certain students must successfully complete to
be eligible for an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors award pursuant to the Taylor
Opportunity Program for Students:
Present law (in addition to other curriculum requirements) provides that through the 2012-
2013 school year, a student must take one unit of World History, Western Civilization, or HLS 11RS-786 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 589
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World Geography and that beginning with the 2013-2014 school year and thereafter a
student must take two units from among such courses.
Proposed law (in addition to other curriculum requirements) retains present law requirements
through the 2012-2013 school year. Provides that beginning with the 2013-2014 school year
and thereafter a student must take two units of World History, Western Civilization, World
Geography, or History of Religion.
Present law (in addition to other curriculum requirements) provides that a student must take
Fine Arts Survey (one unit or substitute two units of performance courses in music, dance,
or theater; or substitute two units of visual art courses; or substitute two units of studio art
courses; or substitute one unit as an elective from among the other TOPS curriculum
requirements.
Proposed law (in addition to other curriculum requirements) retains present law requirements
through the 2012-2013 school year. Provides that beginning with the 2013-2014 school year
and thereafter, a student must take Fine Arts Survey (one unit or substitute one unit of a
performance course in music, dance, or theater, or substitute one unit of a visual art course;
or substitute one unit of a studio art course). Proposed law deletes present law option for the
student to substitute one unit as an elective from among the other TOPS curriculum
requirements.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(1)(e)(intro. para.), (viii) and (x))