SLS 11RS-73 ORIGINAL
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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, 2011
SENATE BILL NO. 50
BY SENATOR GAUTREAUX
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
TOPS. Establishes a cap on TOPS award amounts. (gov sig)
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 17:3048.1(Y), relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students; to2
provide relative to the monetary amounts of awards granted pursuant to the program;3
to provide for maximum award amounts; and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 17:3048.1(Y) is hereby enacted to read as follows: 6
ยง3048.1. Program awards; eligibility; amounts; limitations; funding; administration7
* * *8
Y.(1) Beginning with the 2011-2012 academic year and thereafter, the9
maximum tuition award amount provided by the state to an otherwise qualified10
student who is the recipient of an award granted pursuant to this Chapter, and11
who has enrolled in any public college or university in the state, shall not exceed12
ninety percent of the amount determined by the administering agency to equal13
the tuition charged by the public college or university attended in the state for14
the 2011-2012 award year.15
(2) For an otherwise qualified student who is the recipient of an award16
granted pursuant to this Chapter, and who has enrolled in a regionally17 SB NO. 50
SLS 11RS-73 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
accredited independent college or university in the state which is a member of1
the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the2
maximum tuition award amount shall not exceed ninety percent of the amount3
determined by the administering agency to equal the weighted average amounts4
awarded under this Section for students attending public colleges or universities5
in the state for the 2011-2012 year.6
(3) The maximum tuition award amount specified in this Subsection shall7
be exclusive of any additional amounts awarded to students who qualify to8
receive a Performance Award or Honors Award.9
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not10
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature11
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If12
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become13
effective on the day following such approval.14
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by McHenry Lee.
DIGEST
Present law provides a program of merit scholarships for first time freshman attending public
postsecondary institutions or regionally accredited independent colleges or universities in
this state who meet a specified GPA, ACT score, and core curriculum requirements as
follows:
1. TOPS-Tech Award in the amount of actual tuition for those attending technical
colleges.
2. TOPS-Tech Early Start Award in the amount of $150/three-hour or equivalent time
course taken by eligible 11
th
and 12
th
grade high school students enrolled in a
Louisiana public postsecondary institution and pursuing an industry-based
occupational or vocational-technical credential.
3. Opportunity Award in the amount of the tuition charged for attendance by a public
college or university, or an amount equal to the weighted state average tuition
charged by public four-year colleges for attendance at a regionally accredited
independent college or university, as determined by the administering agency.
4. Performance Award in the amount of tuition, plus $200 per semester, for attendance
at a public college or university, or the weighted state average tuition charged by
public four-year institutions, plus $200 per semester, for attendance at a regionally
accredited independent college or university, as determined by the administering
agency. SB NO. 50
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
5. Honors Award in the amount of tuition, plus $400 per semester, for attendance at a
public college or university, or the weighted state average tuition charged by public
four-year colleges' tuition, plus $400 per semester, for attendance at a regionally
accredited independent college or university, as determined by the administering
agency.
Proposed law retains present law but, beginning with the 2011-2012 academic year,
establishes a maximum TOPS award amount as follows:
1. For students attending a public college or university, the maximum tuition award
amount shall not exceed 90% of the amount determined by the administering agency
to equal the tuition charged by the public college or university attended for the 2011-
2012 award year.
2. For students attending an eligible independent college or university, the maximum
tuition award amount shall not exceed 90% of the amount determined by the
administering agency to equal the weighted state average public institution tuition
amount for students attending public colleges or universities in the state for the 2011-
2012 award year.
Proposed law specifies that such maximum award amount is exclusive of any additional
payments awarded to students who qualify to receive a Performance or Honors award.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:3048.1(Y))