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. 385
Abstract: Revises the TOPS program in three areas: increases required ACT scores for the
TOPS Opportunities Award, requires TOPS repayment in certain cases, and caps TOPS
awards.
Relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS):
Increases ACT Scores
Proposed law, beginning in 2017-2018, changes the requisite American College Test (ACT)
score for the TOPS Opportunity Award by increasing the requisite ACT score from no less than
20 to no less than 22.
TOPS Repayment
Proposed law provides (notwithstanding any provision of present law to the contrary and in
addition to any other eligibility requirements provided by present law for a student to initially
receive and to continue to receive a program award) that for a student to be eligible to have an
award payment during the first two award years, the student, for any particular semester or other
applicable time period, shall agree to and be required to repay such award amount upon a
determination by the agency that the student, during that particular semester or other applicable
time period, failed to meet any of the requirements provided by present law (as may be
applicable) relative to making steady academic progress or maintaining full-time standing for
continuing in the program. Provides that proposed law provisions are applicable to those
students who first qualify for a program award for the 2015-2016 award year and any award year
thereafter.
Maximum TOPS Award
Proposed law specifies that beginning with the 2017-2018 award year and continuing through the
2021-2022 award year, the tuition award amount provided to a TOPS award recipient who
enrolls in any public college or university in the state shall not exceed an amount determined by
the La. Student Financial Assistance Commission (LSFAC) to equal the tuition charged by the
public college or university attended or $1,600 per semester, whichever is less. Proposed law
also specifies that for the same period of time, the tuition award amount provided to a TOPS
award recipient who enrolls in a regionally accredited independent college or university in the
state which is a member of the La. Association of Independent Colleges and Universities shall
not exceed an amount determined by LSFAC to equal the weighted average amounts awarded for students attending public colleges or universities in the state or $1,600 per semester, whichever is
less. Provides that the maximum tuition award amount specified in proposed law is exclusive of
any additional amounts awarded to students who qualify to receive a TOPS Performance or
Honors Award.
(Amends R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(1)(b)(i); Adds R.S. 17:3048.1(C)(6) and (Y))