HLS 13RS-761 REENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE BILL NO. 243
BY REPRESENTATIVE CARTER
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
STUDENT/LOANS-SCHOLARSHP: Provides relative to the eligibility of certain students
who graduate from certain out-of-state or out-of-country high schools to receive a
Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) award
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3048.1(P)(1)(a) and (V)(1)(a), relative to the Taylor2
Opportunity Program for Students; to provide for the eligibility of certain students3
graduating from certain high schools outside of Louisiana or the United States to4
receive program awards; to provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related5
matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 17:3048.1(P)(1)(a) and (V)(1)(a) are hereby amended and reenacted8
to read as follows:9
ยง3048.1. Program awards; eligibility; amounts; limitations; funding; administration10
* * *11
P.(1) Notwithstanding any initial student eligibility requirement of this12
Chapter to the contrary, a student shall be eligible to receive a TOPS-Tech Award13
pursuant to this Section provided each of the applicable following conditions are14
met:15
(a) The student has been certified by the principal or headmaster to have met16
one of the following criteria:17 HLS 13RS-761 REENGROSSED
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(i) The student graduated during the 1996-1997 or the 1997-1998 school year1
or thereafter from an out-of-state high school which has been approved by the2
appropriate state educational agency in the state in which the school is located ;.3
(ii) The student graduated from an out-of-state high school which is4
accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools' Commission on5
Secondary and Middle Schools and meets the standards adopted by the State Board6
of Elementary and Secondary Education for approval of nonpublic schools in7
Louisiana; or, for students certified to have.8
(iii) The student graduated during the 2002-2003 school year or thereafter9
from an out-of-state high school that is accredited by a regional accrediting10
organization recognized by the United States Department of Education and meets the11
standards adopted by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for12
approval of nonpublic schools in Louisiana ; or .13
(iv) The student graduated from a high school which has been approved by14
the United States Department of Defense.15
(v) The student graduated during the 2009-2010 school year or thereafter16
with an International Baccalaureate Diploma from an out-of-state high school17
approved by the International Baccalaureate Organization to issue such a diploma.18
* * *19
V.(1) Notwithstanding any initial student eligibility requirement of this20
Chapter to the contrary, a student shall be eligible to receive a TOPS-Tech Award21
pursuant to this Section provided each of the following conditions are met:22
(a) The student has been certified by the principal or headmaster to have23
meets one of the following criteria:24
(i) The student has been certified by the principal or headmaster to have25
graduated during the 2000-2001 school year or thereafter from a high school located26
outside of the United States and its territories which meets the standards adopted by27
the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education for approval of nonpublic28 HLS 13RS-761 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 243
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schools in Louisiana and which is accredited by an accrediting organization1
recognized by the United States Department of Education . or, in the alternative,2
(ii) The student has been certified by a parent or court-ordered custodian to3
have successfully completed at the twelfth grade level a home study program4
approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education conducted5
outside the United States and its territories.6
(iii) The student has been certified by the principal or headmaster to have7
graduated during the 2009-2010 school year or thereafter with an International8
Baccalaureate Diploma from a high school located outside of the United States and9
its territories and approved by the International Baccalaureate Organization to issue10
such a diploma.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)]
Carter HB No. 243
Abstract: Grants TOPS eligibility to certain students graduating with an International
Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma from a high school that is located outside La. or outside
the U.S. and that is approved by the IB Organization to issue such a diploma.
Present law provides for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) as a program
of merit scholarships for students attending certain postsecondary education institutions who
meet specific grade point average, ACT/SAT score, and core curriculum requirements and
certain other qualifications. Provides that certain students who graduate from certain high
schools outside La. or outside the U.S. are eligible for TOPS awards under alternative
academic guidelines if the student graduated from a high school which meets certain
approval or accreditation criteria or the student completed an approved home study program
outside of the U.S.
Proposed law additionally provides eligibility for TOPS awards under alternative academic
guidelines if the student graduated during the 2009-2010 school year or thereafter with an HLS 13RS-761 REENGROSSED
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IB Diploma from a high school located outside La. or the U.S. and approved by the IB
Organization to issue such a diploma.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:3048.1(P)(1)(a) and (V)(1)(a))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original
bill.
1. Relative to eligibility under proposed law, changes the school year during or
after which a student shall have graduated from 2010-2011 to 2009-2010.