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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, 2013
SENATE BILL NO. 83
BY SENATOR MORRISH
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 monetary amounts of awards granted pursuant2
to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students; to provide for maximum award3
amounts; to provide for adjustments in maximum award amounts; to provide for4
effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 17:3048.1(Y) is hereby enacted to read as follows:7
ยง3048.1. Program awards; eligibility; amounts; limitations; funding; administration8
* * *9
Y.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this Chapter to the contrary,10
beginning with the 2013-2014 award year and thereafter, the maximum award11
amount provided by the state to an otherwise qualified student who is the12
recipient of an award granted pursuant to this Chapter and who enrolls in any13
public college or university in the state shall not exceed the award amount14
determined by the administering agency to equal the award amount paid at that15
public college or university for the 2012-2013 award year, plus ten percent.16
(2) For an otherwise qualified student who is the recipient of an award17 SB NO. 83
SLS 13RS-93 ORIGINAL
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
granted pursuant to this Chapter, and who has enrolled in a regionally1
accredited independent college or university in the state which is a member of2
the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the3
maximum award amount shall not exceed the award amount determined by the4
administering agency to equal the weighted average amounts awarded for5
students attending public colleges and universities in the state for the 2012-20136
award year, plus ten percent.7
(3) The maximum award amounts specified in this Subsection shall be8
exclusive of any additional amounts awarded to students who qualify to receive9
a Performance Award or Honors Award.10
(4) Beginning with the 2014-2015 fiscal year, and every other year11
thereafter, the administering agency shall consider any adjustments necessary12
to align the award amounts granted pursuant to this Chapter with the Higher13
Education Price Index and recommend any such adjustment to the legislature14
for approval during legislative sessions held in odd-numbered years.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
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
Present law provides as follows relative to the dollar amount awarded to Taylor Opportunity
Program (TOPS) recipients of Opportunity, Performance, or Honors awards:
(1)For a recipient 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 (LASFAC) to equal
the tuition charged by the college or university attended.
(2)For a recipient who attends an eligible state nonpublic college or university, the
amount is an amount determined by LASFAC 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 SB NO. 83
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.
by LASFAC 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.
(3)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 LASFAC to equal the weighted average of amounts paid for students
attending La. public colleges and universities that offer academic undergraduate
degrees.
(4)Provides an additional $200 per semester, or $400 per academic year, to a recipient
of a Performance Award, and provides an additional $400 per semester, or $800 per
academic year, to a recipient of an Honors Award.
Relative to the dollar amount of a TOPS-Tech Award, present law provides as follows:
(1)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.
(2)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 award year and thereafter:
(1)The maximum TOPS award amount for a student who enrolls in any state public
college or university shall not exceed the amount determined by the administering
agency to equal the award amount paid at that public college or university for the
2012-2013 award year plus ten percent.
(2)The maximum TOPS award amount for a student who enrolls in an eligible state
nonpublic college or university shall not exceed the award amount determined by the
administering agency to equal the weighted average amounts awarded for students
attending public colleges and universities in the state for the 2012-2013 award year,
plus ten percent.
(3)Retains payment of the supplemental amounts established in present law for a
recipient of a Performance or Honors award.
Proposed law provides that, beginning with the 2014-2015 fiscal year, and every other year
thereafter, the administering agency shall consider any adjustments necessary to align TOPS
award amounts with the Higher Education Price Index and recommend any such adjustments
to the legislature for approval during legislative sessions held in odd-numbered years.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:3048.1(Y))