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)]
Talbot HB No. 780
Abstract: Includes Student Scholarship for Education Excellence Program in scholarship
priority and definition of "qualified student" and specifies that the requirement of a school
tuition organization to ensure the portability of a scholarship and the proration of the
scholarship amount only applies to qualified schools served by the school tuition
organization.
Present law authorizes a rebate for donations a taxpayer makes to a school tuition organization
(STO) which provides scholarships to qualified students to attend a qualified school. The
amount of the rebate is equal to the actual amount of the taxpayer's donation used by an STO to
fund a scholarship to a qualified student.
Present law provides relative to the requirement that an STO provide scholarships to qualified
students on a first-come, first served basis with priority given to students who received a
scholarship the previous year.
Proposed law specifies, with respect to the priority given to students who received a scholarship
the previous year, that the scholarship was from either the STO or the Student Scholarships for
Educational Excellence Program.
Present law requires an STO to ensure that scholarships granted to qualified students are portable
during the school year and can be used at any qualifying school that accepts a qualified student.
Authorizes the scholarship amount to be prorated if a parent desires their student to move to a
new qualified school during a school year.
Proposed law specifies that the STO's obligation to ensure that the scholarship is portable and
that tuition amount is prorated only applies to a qualifying school served by the STO.
Present law defines a "qualified student" as a child who is a member of a family that resides in
La. with a total household income that does not exceed an amount equal to 250% of the federal
poverty level based on the federal poverty guidelines. A qualified student shall also be a student
who is entering kindergarten for the first time, a student who attended a public school the
previous year, or a student who received a scholarship from an STO for the previous school year.
Proposed law retains present law but adds to the definition of a "qualified student", a student who
received a scholarship from the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program. Present law authorizes the Department of Education (DOE) to conduct either a financial review
or an audit of an STO as deemed necessary by the department. Further requires the DOE to bar
an STO from participating in the rebate program if the STO intentionally and substantially fails
to comply with the requirements of present law.
Proposed law changes present law by requiring the DOE to conduct an annual audit of an STO.
Further requires the DOE to publicly report state test scores for each student receiving a
scholarship from an STO pursuant to the provisions of present law in accordance with present
federal law and federal regulations. However, the DOE shall not include the name or any other
identifying information of individual students.
(Amends R.S. 47:6301(B)(1)(c)(iv) and (viii) and (3), and (C)(1)(e); Adds R.S.
47:6301(C)(1)(g))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill.
1. Adds provision requiring, rather than permitting, the Department of Education (DOE)
to annually audit a school tuition organization. Deletes the option of DOE to conduct
a financial review rather than an audit.
2. Requires the DOE to publicly report state test scores for each student receiving a
scholarship from an STO in accordance with the requirements of present federal law
and federal regulations.