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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 510
BY REPRESENTATIVE GREENE
STUDENT/LOANS-SCHOLARSHP: Increases the ACT score and grade point average
required for a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students Opportunity Award
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(1)(b)(i), relative to the Taylor Opportunity2
Program for Students; to provide relative to requirements for an Opportunity Award;3
and to provide for related matters.4
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:5
Section 1. R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(1)(b)(i) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as6
follows: 7
ยง3048.1. Program awards; eligibility; amounts; limitations; funding; administration8
A.(1) As part of the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, the9
state shall financially assist any student who enrolls on a full-time basis in a public10
college or university in this state or a regionally accredited independent college or11
university in the state that is a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent12
Colleges and Universities, hereafter in this Chapter referred to collectively as13
"eligible colleges and universities", to pursue an academic undergraduate degree or,14
as provided by this Subsection, skill or occupational training as defined by the Board15
of Regents, including a vocational or technical education certificate or diploma16
program or a nonacademic undergraduate degree, and who meets the qualifications17
of Subparagraph (b), (c), or (d) of this Paragraph and all of the applicable following18
qualifications:19
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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 for4
students graduating during the 2015-2016 school year or before or 2.75 for students5
graduating during the 2016-2017 school year or thereafter, has a composite score on6
the 1990 version of the American College Test which is at least equal to or higher7
than the state's average composite score, rounded to the nearest whole number,8
reported for the prior year but never less than twenty for students graduating during9
the 2015-2016 school year or before and never less than twenty-one for students10
graduating during the 2016-2017 school year or thereafter or an equivalent11
concordant value on an enhanced or revised version of such test or on the Scholastic12
Aptitude Test, and, unless granted an exception for cause by the administering13
agency, has enrolled in an eligible college or university as a first-time freshman not14
later than the semester, excluding summer semesters or sessions, immediately15
following the first anniversary of the date that the student graduated from high16
school or, if the student joins the United States Armed Forces within one year after17
graduating from high school, has enrolled in an eligible college or university as a18
first-time freshman not later than the semester, excluding summer semesters or19
sessions, immediately following the fifth anniversary of the date that the student20
graduated from high school; however, effective for the 1996-1997 school year and21
thereafter, if, on or prior to the fifth anniversary of the date that the student graduated22
from high school, the student reenlists in the United States Armed Forces and23
maintains continuous active duty, the five-year period shall be extended to the24
semester immediately following the one-year anniversary of the student's separation25
from active duty service. As distinguished from all other students qualifying for this26
program, a student who meets the requirements of this Subparagraph shall be the27
recipient of an "Opportunity Award" for the purposes of this program.28
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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)]
Greene HB No. 510
Abstract: Revises the TOPS program with respect to requisite GPA and ACT scores for an
"Opportunity Award".
Present law provides relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS).
Further provides with respect to certain qualifications for participation in the program.
Present law requires that students have a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50
and an American College Test (ACT) score equal to the state's average composite score, but
never less than 20 to receive a TOPS "Opportunity Award". Proposed law, beginning in
2017, increases requisite grade point average to 2.75 and ACT score to 21 for such an
award; otherwise retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(1)(b)(i))