HLS 14RS-93 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 710
BY REPRESENTATIVE GREENE
STUDENT/LOANS-SCHOLARSHP: Permits use of TOPS awards at eligible La.
institutions by otherwise qualified students who graduated from out-of-state colleges
or universities
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 17:3048.1(Y), relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students; to2
provide for the use of awards for postgraduate education at eligible Louisiana3
institutions by otherwise qualified students who enroll in and graduate from an out-4
of-state college or university; to provide conditions and limitations; to provide for5
award amounts; to provide an effective date; and to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. This Act shall be known and may be cited as the "Reward of Tuition to8
Return Now to Louisiana (RTRN-LA) Act".9
Section 2. R.S. 17:3048.1(Y) is hereby enacted to read as follows:10
ยง3048.1. Program awards; eligibility; amounts; limitations; funding; administration11
* * *12
Y.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this Chapter to the contrary, an13
otherwise qualified student who meets each of the following conditions and who first14
enrolls as a full-time student in an out-of-state college or university and remains in15
and graduates from an out-of-state college or university may use the program award16
provided for by this Section to pursue a postgraduate academic degree in a field of17
study that qualifies the student for employment after graduation in a four or five star18
job, on a statewide basis, as defined by the Louisiana Workforce Commission, at an19 HLS 14RS-93 ORIGINAL
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eligible institution provided that the student continues to meet all academic and other1
requirements provided by this Section and by rule of the administering agency for2
continued receipt of the award as an undergraduate except as such requirements,3
including requirements provided by this Section for undergraduate students, may be4
modified by the administering agency as necessary to apply such requirements to5
postgraduate study:6
(a) The student has been determined by the administering agency to meet the7
initial eligibility requirements established by this Section for an Opportunity,8
Performance, or Honors award.9
(b) The student graduated from an out-of-state college or university and the10
out-of-state college or university is accredited by a regional accrediting organization11
recognized by the United States Department of Education.12
(c) While enrolled in such an out-of-state college or university, the student13
met all requirements of this Section that would have been applicable to the student14
for continuation of the initial award if the student had enrolled in an eligible college15
or university in Louisiana.16
(d) The student graduated from high school during the 2008-2009 school17
year or thereafter.18
(2) The amount of the award relative to tuition as provided for in this19
Subsection shall not exceed the amounts determined by the administering agency to20
equal the tuition charged for the postgraduate study or the amount charged for21
undergraduate full-time enrollment at the highest cost public college university in the22
state, whichever amount is less.23
(3) A student may receive the award under this Subsection for the number24
of semesters authorized by Subsection H of this Section, provided that the number25
of semesters shall be reduced as required by Subsection C of this Section.26
(4) A student shall remain eligible to receive the award pursuant to this27
Subsection if, at any time after he enrolls in but before he completes the postgraduate28
degree program that qualifies him for employment in a four or five star job as29 HLS 14RS-93 ORIGINAL
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specified in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, the job is no longer defined as a four1
or five star job.2
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not3
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature4
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If5
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become6
effective on the day following such approval.7
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. 710
Abstract: Permits use of TOPS awards to pursue certain postgraduate academic degrees at
eligible La. institutions by otherwise qualified students who enroll as first-time
students in and graduate from out-of-state colleges or universities.
Proposed law, relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), adds that
notwithstanding present law to the contrary, an otherwise qualified student who meets each
of the following conditions and who first enrolls as a full-time student in an out-of-state
college or university and remains in and graduates from an out-of-state college or university
may use the program award to pursue a postgraduate academic degree in a field of study that
qualifies the student for employment in a four or five star job as defined by the La.
Workforce Commission at an eligible institution if the student continues to meet all
academic and other requirements for continued receipt of the award as an undergraduate
except as such requirements are modified by the administering agency to apply to
postgraduate study:
(1)The student meets the initial eligibility requirements for an Opportunity,
Performance, or Honors award.
(2)The student graduated from an out-of-state college or university accredited by a
regional accrediting organization recognized by the U.S. Dept. of Education.
(3)While enrolled in such an out-of-state college or university, the student met all
requirements that would have been applicable to such student for continuation of the
initial award if the student had enrolled in an eligible La. college or university.
(4)The student graduated from high school during the 2008-2009 school year or
thereafter.
Provides that the amount of the tuition award shall not exceed the amounts determined by
the administering agency to equal the tuition charged for the postgraduate study or for
undergraduate full-time enrollment charged by the highest cost public college university in
the state, whichever is less. Permits the student to receive the award for the number of
semesters authorized by present law (no more than eight semesters or its equivalent), as
reduced pursuant to present law. Provides that the student shall remain eligible to receive HLS 14RS-93 ORIGINAL
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the award if, during his enrollment in the postgraduate degree program, the four or five star
job is no longer defined as such.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:3048.1(Y))