HLS 14RS-2380 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 1153
BY REPRESENTATIVE HARRISON
STUDENT/LOANS-SCHOLARSHP: Provides relative to Taylor Opportunity Program for
Students
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(1)(b)(i), (2), (4)(introductory paragraph), and2
(5)(b)(i), relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students; to provide relative3
to Opportunity Award amounts; to provide relative to eligibility requirements for4
Opportunity Awards; to provide an effective date; and to provide for related matters.5
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:6
Section 1. R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(1)(b)(i), (2), (4)(introductory paragraph), and (5)(b)(i)7
are hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:8
ยง3048.1. Program awards; eligibility; amounts; limitations; funding; administration9
A.(1) As part of the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, the10
state shall financially assist any student who enrolls on a full-time basis in a public11
college or university in this state or a regionally accredited independent college or12
university in the state that is a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent13
Colleges and Universities, hereafter in this Chapter referred to collectively as14
"eligible colleges and universities", to pursue an academic undergraduate degree or,15
as provided by this Subsection, skill or occupational training as defined by the Board16
of Regents, including a vocational or technical education certificate or diploma17
program or a nonacademic undergraduate degree, and who meets the qualifications18
of Subparagraph (b), (c), or (d) of this Paragraph and all of the applicable following19
qualifications:20
* * *21 HLS 14RS-2380 ORIGINAL
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(b)(i) Has been certified as provided in Subsection D of this Section to have1
graduated from a public high school or a nonpublic high school which has been2
approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, has a3
minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 calculated on a 4.00 scale, has a4
composite score on the 1990 version of the American College Test which is at least5
equal to or higher than the state's average composite score, rounded to the nearest6
whole number, reported for the prior year but never less than twenty for students7
graduating during the 2016-2017 school year or before and never less than twenty-8
two for students graduating during the 2017-2018 school year or thereafter or an9
equivalent concordant value on an enhanced or revised version of such test or on the10
Scholastic Aptitude Test except for students graduating during the 2017-2018 school11
year or thereafter who have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.0012
calculated on a 4.00 scale in which case there is no required minimum American13
College Test or Scholastic Aptitude Test score, and, unless granted an exception for14
cause by the administering agency, has enrolled in an eligible college or university15
as a first-time freshman not later than the semester, excluding summer semesters or16
sessions, immediately following the first anniversary of the date that the student17
graduated from high school or, if the student joins the United States Armed Forces18
within one year after graduating from high school, has enrolled in an eligible college19
or university as a first-time freshman not later than the semester, excluding summer20
semesters or sessions, immediately following the fifth anniversary of the date that21
the student graduated from high school; however, effective for the 1996-1997 school22
year and thereafter, if, on or prior to the fifth anniversary of the date that the student23
graduated from high school, the student reenlists in the United States Armed Forces24
and maintains continuous active duty, the five-year period shall be extended to the25
semester immediately following the one-year anniversary of the student's separation26
from active duty service. As distinguished from all other students qualifying for this27
program, a student who meets the requirements of this Subparagraph shall be the28
recipient of an "Opportunity Award" for the purposes of this program.29 HLS 14RS-2380 ORIGINAL
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* * *1
(2)(a) Any student who applies for an Opportunity Award in accordance with2
Subparagraph (A)(1)(b), who enrolled in any public college or university in the state3
to pursue an academic undergraduate degree or skill or occupational training,4
including a vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program or a5
nonacademic undergraduate degree, and who meets the qualifications enumerated6
in Subparagraphs (A)(1)(a), (e), and (f), shall be awarded by the state an amount7
determined by the administering agency to equal the following percentage of the8
tuition charged by the public college or university attended in the state :9
(i) For students who commence full-time studies as a first-time freshman on10
or before June 30, 2018, an amount equal to one hundred percent of the tuition11
charged.12
(ii) For students who commence full-time studies as a first-time freshman13
after June 30, 2018, an amount equal to eighty percent of the tuition charged during14
their first two semesters of studies, ninety percent of tuition charged during their15
third and fourth semesters of studies, one hundred percent of tuition charged during16
their fifth and sixth semesters of studies, and one hundred-twenty percent of tuition17
charged during their seventh and eighth semesters of studies, which amount in excess18
of tuition can be used to cover expenses including room and board, books, and other19
instructional materials. 20
(b) For any student who meets such qualifications and applies for an21
Opportunity Award in accordance with Subparagraph (A)(1)(b), who has enrolled22
at any regionally accredited independent college or university in the state which is23
a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities to24
pursue an academic undergraduate degree or skill or occupational training, including25
a vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program or a nonacademic26
undergraduate degree, the state shall award an amount to be determined by the27
administering agency to equal the following percentage of the weighted average of28
amounts paid under this Section for students attending public colleges and29 HLS 14RS-2380 ORIGINAL
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universities that offer academic undergraduate degrees at the baccalaureate level or1
an amount to be determined by the administering agency to equal the following2
percentage of the weighted average of amounts paid under this Section for students3
attending public colleges and universities who are enrolled in the permitted skill or4
occupational training, as may be applicable:5
(i) For students who commence full-time studies as a first-time freshman on6
or before June 30, 2018, an amount equal to one hundred percent of the weighted7
average of amounts paid.8
(ii) For students who commence full-time studies as a first-time freshman9
after June 30, 2018, an amount equal to eighty percent of the weighted average of10
amounts paid during their first two semesters of studies, ninety percent of the11
average during their third and fourth semesters of studies, one hundred percent of the12
average during their fifth and sixth semesters of studies, and one hundred-twenty13
percent of the average during their seventh and eighth semesters of studies which14
amount in excess of tuition can be used to cover expenses including room and board,15
books, and other instructional materials. 16
* * *17
(4) To maintain continued state payment of an amount equal to tuition or a18
percentage of tuition as provided for an Opportunity Award and other amounts19
pursuant to an award under this Chapter once enrolled in college a student shall meet20
all of the following:21
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(5)23
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(b)(i) For any student who is the recipient of an Opportunity Award and who25
is eligible to use the award at an out-of-state nonpublic college or university pursuant26
to the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, the award amount to pursue27
an academic undergraduate degree shall be an amount determined by the28
administering agency to equal the following percentage of the weighted average of29 HLS 14RS-2380 ORIGINAL
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amounts paid under this Section for students attending Louisiana public colleges and1
universities that offer academic undergraduate degrees:2
(aa) For students who commence full-time studies as a first-time freshman3
on or before June 30, 2018, an amount equal to one hundred percent of the weighted4
average of amounts paid.5
(bb) For students who commence full-time studies as a first-time freshman6
after June 30, 2018, an amount equal to eighty percent of the weighted average of7
amounts paid during their first two semesters of studies, ninety percent of the8
average during their third and fourth semesters of studies, one hundred percent of the9
average during their fifth and sixth semesters of studies, and one hundred-twenty10
percent of the average during their seventh and eighth semesters of studies which11
amount in excess of tuition can be used to cover expenses including room and board,12
books, and other instructional materials. 13
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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)]
Harrison HB No. 1153
Abstract: Relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, provides relative to
award amounts and eligibility requirements for the Opportunity Award.
Present law provides relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS).
Provides with respect to certain qualifications for participation in the program and provides
for scholarship awards and payments of awards.
Present law, relative to eligibility requirements to receive a TOPS Opportunity Award,
requires that students have an American College Test (ACT) score equal to the state's
average composite score, but never less than 20. Proposed law, effective for students
graduating in the 2017-2018 school year and thereafter, increases the requisite ACT to a
minimum of 22; however, eliminates the need for a minimum ACT score if the student's
GPA is 3.0 or greater.
Present law provides that Opportunity Award recipients enrolled in a public institution or
vocational program receive full tuition and Opportunity Award recipients enrolled in an
independent institution or vocational program receive an amount equal to the weighted
average of amounts paid by TOPS for students attending public institutional or vocational
schools, as applicable. Proposed law retains present law for those students enrolling as a
first-time freshman on or before June 20, 2018, but thereafter, provides for an award equal HLS 14RS-2380 ORIGINAL
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to a percentage of tuition as follows: 80% for first two semesters; 90% for third and fourth
semesters; 100% for fifth and sixth semesters; and 120% for seventh and eighth semesters.
(Amends R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(1)(b)(i), (2), (4)(intro. para.), and (5)(b)(i)