HLS 12RS-992 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2012
HOUSE BILL NO. 841
BY REPRESENTATIVE SMITH
STUDENT/LOANS-SCHOLARSHP: Relative to Taylor Opportunity Program for Students,
provides for award dollar amounts
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(2), (3), and (5)(b), and (B)(2)(introductory2
paragraph); to provide relative to the monetary amount of awards pursuant to the3
Taylor Opportunity Program for Students; to provide for award amount4
determinations; to provide guidelines; to provide applicability; to provide for5
effectiveness; to provide relative to the duties and responsibilities of the Board of6
Regents and the Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission in determining7
award amounts; to provide an effective date; and to provide for related matters.8
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:9
Section 1. R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(2), (3), and (5)(b), and (B)(2)(introductory paragraph)10
are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows: 11
ยง3048.1. Program awards; eligibility; amounts; limitations; funding; administration12
A.13
* * *14
(2)(a) Any student who applies for an Opportunity Award in accordance with15
Subparagraph (A)(1)(b), who enrolled in any public college or university in the state16
to pursue an academic undergraduate degree or skill or occupational training,17
including a vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program or a18
nonacademic undergraduate degree, and who meets the qualifications enumerated19
in Subparagraphs (A)(1)(a), (e), and (f), shall be awarded by the state an amount20
determined by the administering agency to equal the tuition charged by the public21
college or university attended in the state; however, notwithstanding any provision22 HLS 12RS-992 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 841
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of this Chapter to the contrary, beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year and for1
each academic year thereafter, any otherwise qualified student who enrolls as a first-2
time freshman in the 2013-2014 academic year or any academic year thereafter, the3
Opportunity Award amount shall be established by the Board of Regents in its4
Tuition and Financial Aid Policy in consultation with the administering agency as5
approved by the legislature. The board annually shall consider any necessary6
adjustment to the amount and recommend any such adjustment to the legislature no7
later than ninety days prior to the convening of the next regular legislative session.8
(b) For any student who meets such qualifications and who has enrolled at9
any regionally accredited independent college or university in the state which is a10
member of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities to11
pursue an academic undergraduate degree or skill or occupational training, including12
a vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program or a nonacademic13
undergraduate degree, the state shall award an amount to be determined by the14
administering agency to equal the weighted average of amounts paid under this15
Section for students attending public colleges and universities that offer academic16
undergraduate degrees at the baccalaureate level or an amount to be determined by17
the administering agency to equal the weighted average of amounts paid under this18
Section for students attending public colleges and universities who are enrolled in19
the permitted skill or occupational training, as may be applicable; however,20
beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year and for each academic year thereafter,21
the amount awarded by the state to such student shall be established by the Louisiana22
Board of Regents in its Tuition and Financial Aid Policy in consultation with the23
administering agency as approved by the legislature. The board annually shall24
consider any necessary adjustment to the amount and recommend any such25
adjustment to the legislature no later than ninety days prior to the convening of the26
next regular legislative session.27
(3) Any student who applies for a Performance or an Honors Award in28
accordance with Subparagraph (A)(1)(c) or (d) and who meets the qualifications29 HLS 12RS-992 ORIGINAL
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enumerated in Subparagraphs (A)(1)(a), (e), and (f) shall have payments made on1
their behalf as follows:2
(a) For any student who qualifies to receive an Honors Award in accordance3
with Subparagraph (A)(1)(d) and who has enrolled at any public college or university4
in the state to pursue an academic undergraduate degree or to pursue skill or5
occupational training, including a vocational or technical education certificate or6
diploma program or a nonacademic undergraduate degree, the state shall award an7
amount determined by the administering agency to equal the tuition charged by the8
public college or university attended in the state, plus the sum of four hundred9
dollars per semester or eight hundred dollars per academic year; however, beginning10
with the 2013-2014 academic year and for each academic year thereafter, the amount11
of the Honors Award awarded by the state to such student shall equal the amount of12
the Opportunity Award, plus the sum of four hundred dollars per semester or eight13
hundred dollars per academic year.14
(b) For any student who qualifies to receive an Honors Award in accordance15
with Subparagraph (A)(1)(d) and who has enrolled at any regionally accredited16
independent college or university in the state which is a member of the Louisiana17
Association of Independent Colleges and Universities to pursue an academic18
undergraduate degree or skill or occupational training, including a vocational or19
technical education certificate or diploma program or a nonacademic undergraduate20
degree, the state shall award an amount determined by the administering agency to21
equal the weighted average of the amounts awarded under this Section for students22
attending public colleges and universities that offer academic undergraduate degrees23
at the baccalaureate level or an amount to be determined by the administering agency24
to equal the weighted average of amounts paid under this Section for students25
attending public colleges and universities who are enrolled in the permitted skill or26
occupational training, as may be applicable, plus the sum of four hundred dollars per27
semester or eight hundred dollars per academic year; however, beginning with the28
2013-2014 academic year and for each academic year thereafter, the amount of the29 HLS 12RS-992 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 841
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Honors Award awarded by the state to such student shall equal the amount1
established by the Board of Regents in its Tuition and Financial Aid Policy as2
approved by the legislature, plus the sum of four hundred dollars per semester or3
eight hundred dollars per academic year.4
(c) For any student who qualifies to receive a Performance Award in5
accordance with Subparagraph (A)(1)(c) and who has enrolled at any public college6
or university in the state to pursue an academic undergraduate degree or to pursue7
skill or occupational training, including a vocational or technical education8
certificate or diploma program or a nonacademic undergraduate degree, the state9
shall award an amount equal to the tuition charged by the public college or university10
attended in the state, plus the sum of two hundred dollars per semester or four11
hundred dollars per academic year; however, beginning with the 2013-201412
academic year and for each academic year thereafter, the amount of the Performance13
Award awarded by the state to such student shall equal the amount of the14
Opportunity Award, plus the sum of two hundred dollars per semester or four15
hundred dollars per academic year.16
(d) For any student who qualifies to receive a Performance Award in17
accordance with Subparagraph (A)(1)(c) and who has enrolled at any regionally18
accredited independent college or university in the state which is a member of the19
Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities to pursue an20
academic undergraduate degree or skill or occupational training, including a21
vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program or a nonacademic22
undergraduate degree, the state shall award an amount determined by the23
administering agency to equal the weighted average of the amounts awarded under24
this Section for students attending public colleges and universities that offer25
academic undergraduate degrees at the baccalaureate level or an amount to be26
determined by the administering agency to equal the weighted average of amounts27
paid under this Section for students attending public colleges and universities who28
are enrolled in the permitted skill or occupational training, as may be applicable, plus29 HLS 12RS-992 ORIGINAL
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the sum of two hundred dollars per semester or four hundred dollars per academic1
year; however, beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year and for each academic2
year thereafter, the amount of the Performance Award awarded by the state to such3
student shall equal the amount established by the Board of Regents in it Tuition and4
Financial Aid Policy as approved by the legislature, plus the sum of two hundred5
dollars per semester or four hundred dollars per academic year.6
* * *7
(5)8
* * *9
(b)(i) For any student who is the recipient of an Opportunity Award and who10
is eligible to use the award at an out-of-state nonpublic college or university pursuant11
to the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the award amount to pursue12
an academic undergraduate degree shall be an amount determined by the13
administering agency to equal the weighted average of amounts paid under this14
Section for students attending Louisiana public colleges and universities that offer15
academic undergraduate degrees; however, beginning with the 2013-2014 academic16
year and for each academic year thereafter, the amount awarded by the state to such17
student shall equal the amount established by the Board of Regents in its Tuition and18
Financial Aid Policy as approved by the legislature. The board annually shall19
consider any necessary adjustment to the amount and recommend any such20
adjustment to the legislature no later than ninety days prior to the convening of the21
next regular legislative session.22
(ii) For any student who is the recipient of a Performance Award and who23
is eligible to use the award at an out-of-state nonpublic college or university pursuant24
to the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the award amount to pursue25
an academic undergraduate degree shall be an amount determined by the26
administering agency to equal the weighted average of amounts paid under this27
Section for students attending Louisiana public colleges and universities that offer28
academic undergraduate degrees plus the sum of two hundred dollars per semester29 HLS 12RS-992 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 841
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or four hundred dollars per academic year; however, beginning with the 2013-20141
academic year and for each academic year thereafter, the amount of the Performance2
Award awarded by the state to such student shall equal the amount established by the3
Board of Regents in its Tuition and Financial Aid Policy as approved by the4
legislature, plus the sum of two hundred dollars per semester or four hundrad dollars5
per academic year.6
(iii) For any student who is the recipient of an Honors Award and who is7
eligible to use the award at an out-of-state nonpublic college or university pursuant8
to the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the award amount to pursue9
an academic undergraduate degree shall be an amount determined by the10
administering agency to equal the weighted average of amounts paid under this11
Section for students attending Louisiana public colleges and universities that offer12
academic undergraduate degrees plus the sum of four hundred dollars per semester13
or eight hundred dollars per academic year; however, beginning with the 2013-201414
academic year and for each academic year thereafter, the amount of the Honors15
Award awarded by the state to such student shall equal the amount established by the16
Board of Regents in its Tuition and Financial Aid Policy as approved by the17
legislature, plus the sum of four hundred dollars per semester or eight hundrad18
dollars per academic year.19
B.20
* * *21
(2) As part of the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, for22
students graduating from high school through the 1999-2000 school year the state23
shall award an amount determined by the administering agency to equal the actual24
cost of tuition of any student who enrolls on a full-time basis in a Louisiana public25
postsecondary institution to pursue skill or occupational training, including a26
vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program or a nonacademic27
undergraduate degree, and who meets the following qualifications and all other28
applicable qualifications of this Chapter and for students graduating from high29 HLS 12RS-992 ORIGINAL
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school during the 2000-2001 school year and thereafter the state shall award an1
amount determined by the administering agency in accordance with the provisions2
of Subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph for any student who enrolls on a full-time basis3
in an eligible college or university as defined in Subsection A of this Section to4
pursue skill or occupational training as defined by the Board of Regents, including5
a vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program or a nonacademic6
undergraduate degree, and who meets the following qualifications and all other7
applicable qualifications of this Chapter:Chapter, provided that beginning with the8
2013-2014 academic year and for each academic year thereafter, the amount shall9
be established by the Board of Regents in consultation with the administering agency10
in its Tuition and Financial Aid Policy as approved by the legislature. The Board of11
Regents annually shall consider any necessary adjustment to the amount and12
recommend any such adjustment to the legislature no later than ninety days prior to13
the convening of the next regular legislative session:14
* * *15
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not16
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature17
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If18
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become19
effective on the day following such approval.20
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)]
Smith HB No. 841
Abstract: Provides that beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year and for each
academic year thereafter, the amount of a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students
(TOPS) award shall equal the amount established by the Bd. of Regents in its Tuition
and Financial Aid Policy. Retains payment of supplemental amounts established for
a recipient of a Performance or Honors award.
Relative to the dollar amount of TOPS awards, present law provides as follows for recipients
of Opportunity, Performance, or Honors awards: HLS 12RS-992 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 841
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For a recipient of who attends a La. public college or university to pursue an academic
undergraduate degree or skill or occupational training, the amount is an amount determined
by the La. Student Financial Assistance Commission (LSFAC) to equal the tuition charged
by the college or university attended.
For a recipient who attends an eligible state nonpublic college or university, the amount is
an amount determined by LSFAC to equal the weighted average amount of amounts paid for
students attending public colleges and universities that offer academic undergraduate degrees
at the baccalaureate level OR an amount determined by LSFAC to equal the weighted
average of amounts paid for students attending public colleges and universities who are
enrolled in permitted skill or occupational training, as applicable.
For a recipient who is eligible to use the award at an out-of-state nonpublic college or
university to pursue an academic undergraduate degree, the amount is an amount determined
by LSFAC to equal the weighted average of amounts paid for students attending La. public
colleges and universities that offer academic undergraduate degrees.
For a recipient of a Performance Award, also provides $200 per semester or $400 per
academic year. For a recipient of an Honors Award, provides an additional $400 per
semester or $800 per academic year.
Relative to the dollar amount of a TOPS-Tech Award, present law provides as follows:
For a recipient who attends an eligible La. public college or university that does not offer an
academic undergraduate degree at the baccalaureate level or higher to pursue permitted skill
or occupational training, the amount equals the actual cost of tuition.
For a recipient who attends any other eligible postsecondary education institution, the
amount equals the weighted average of amounts paid for students attending public
institutions.
Proposed law provides that beginning with the 2013-2014 academic year and for each
academic year thereafter, the TOPS award amount shall be established by the Board of
Regents (in consultation with LSFAC ) in the board's Tuition and Financial Aid Policy as
approved by the legislature. Provides that the board annually shall consider any necessary
adjustment to the amount and recommend any such adjustment to the legislature no later
than 90 days prior to the convening of the next regular session. Proposed law retains
payment of the supplemental amounts established for a recipient of a Performance or Honors
award.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(2), (3), and (5)(b), and (B)(2)(intro. para.))