HLS 14RS-246 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 977
BY REPRESENTATIVE KATRINA JACKSON
STUDENT/LOANS-SCHOLARSHP: Provides relative to eligibility for Taylor Opportunity
Program for Students (TOPS)
AN ACT1
To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(1)(b)(i), (c)(i)(aa), and (d)(i), relative to2
qualifications for Taylor Opportunity Program for Students scholarships, to provide3
with respect to eligibility requirements for participation in the program; and to4
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), (c)(i)(aa), and (d)(i) are hereby amended and7
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 HLS 14RS-246 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 977
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* * *1
(b)(i) Has been certified as provided in Subsection D of this Section to have2
graduated from a public high school or a nonpublic high school which has been3
approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, has a4
minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50 3.00 calculated on a 4.00 scale, has5
a minimum composite score on the 1990 version of the American College Test6
which is at least equal to or higher than the state's of the average composite score,7
rounded to the nearest whole number, reported for students enrolled during the prior8
year at the institution at which the student is enrolled but never less than twenty or9
an equivalent concordant value on an enhanced or revised version of such test or on10
the Scholastic Aptitude Test, and, unless granted an exception for cause by the11
administering agency, has enrolled in an eligible college or university as a first-time12
freshman not later than the semester, excluding summer semesters or sessions,13
immediately following the first anniversary of the date that the student graduated14
from high school or, if the student joins the United States Armed Forces within one15
year after graduating from high school, has enrolled in an eligible college or16
university as a first-time freshman not later than the semester, excluding summer17
semesters or sessions, immediately following the fifth anniversary of the date that18
the student graduated from high school; however, effective for the 1996-1997 school19
year and thereafter, if, on or prior to the fifth anniversary of the date that the student20
graduated from high school, the student reenlists in the United States Armed Forces21
and maintains continuous active duty, the five-year period shall be extended to the22
semester immediately following the one-year anniversary of the student's separation23
from active duty service. As distinguished from all other students qualifying for this24
program, a student who meets the requirements of this Subparagraph shall be the25
recipient of an "Opportunity Award" for the purposes of this program.26
* * *27
(c)(i)(aa) Has been certified as provided in Subsection D of this Section to28
have graduated from a public high school or nonpublic high school which has been29 HLS 14RS-246 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 977
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approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, has enrolled,1
unless granted an exception for cause by the administering agency, in an eligible2
college or university as a first-time freshman not later than the semester, excluding3
summer semesters or sessions, immediately following the first anniversary of the4
date that the student graduated from high school, except as provided in Subitem (bb)5
of this Item, has achieved a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.506
calculated on a 4.00 scale, and has a minimum composite score on the 1990 version7
of the American College Test of twenty-three or higher the average composite score,8
rounded to the nearest whole number, reported for students enrolled during the prior9
year at the institution at which the student is enrolled or an equivalent concordant10
value on any enhanced or revised version of such test or on the Scholastic Aptitude11
Test. As distinguished from all other students qualifying for this program, a student12
who meets the requirements of this Subparagraph shall receive and be recognized as13
the recipient of a "Performance Award" for the purposes of this program.14
* * *15
(d)(i) Has been certified as provided in Subsection D of this Section to have16
graduated from a public high school or nonpublic high school which has been17
approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education with a18
minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50 3.70 on a 4.00 scale and a19
minimum composite score of twenty-seven or higher on the 1990 version of the20
American College Test of the average composite score, rounded to the nearest whole21
number, reported for students enrolled during the prior year at the insitution at which22
the student is enrolled or an equivalent concordant value on any enhanced or revised23
version of such test or on the Scholastic Aptitude Test, and, unless granted an24
exception for cause by the administering agency, has enrolled in an eligible college25
or university as a first-time freshman not later than the semester, excluding summer26
semesters or sessions, immediately following the first anniversary of the date that the27
student graduated from high school or, if the student joins the United States Armed28
Forces within one year after graduating from high school, has enrolled in an eligible29 HLS 14RS-246 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 977
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college or university as a first-time freshman not later than the semester, excluding1
summer semesters or sessions, immediately following the fifth anniversary of the2
date that the student graduated from high school; however, effective for the 1996-3
1997 school year and thereafter, if, on or prior to the fifth anniversary of the date that4
the student graduated from high school, the student reenlists in the United States5
Armed Forces and maintains continuous active duty, the five-year period shall be6
extended to the semester immediately following the one-year anniversary of the7
student's separation from active duty service. As distinguished from all other8
students qualifying for this program, a student who meets the requirements of this9
Subparagraph shall receive and be recognized as the recipient of an "Honors Award"10
for the purposes of this program.11
* * *12
Section 2. The provisions of this Act are applicable to students graduating from high13
school during or after the 2014-2015 school year.14
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)]
Katrina Jackson HB No. 977
Abstract: Provides relative to eligibility requirements for participation in the Taylor
Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS).
Present law provides with respect to the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Students
(TOPS). Under the program, the state shall financially assist any student who enrolls on a
full-time basis in a public college or university or a regionally accredited independent
college or university to pursue an academic undergraduate degree or skill or occupational
training, and who meets the qualifications of present law.
Present law provides general requirements for participation in the TOPS program. Requires
students to have graduated from a public high school or a nonpublic high school which has
been approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE). Also
requires that students be enrolled in an eligible college or university as a first-time freshman
not later than the semester immediately following the first anniversary of the date that the
student graduated from high school.
Present law provides with respect to the "Opportunity Award." Requires that the student has
a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.50. Further requires that the student has a
composite score on the American College Test (ACT) which is at least equal to or higher
than the state's average composite score reported for the prior year but never less than 20 or HLS 14RS-246 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 977
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an equivalent concordant value on an enhanced or revised version of such test or on the
Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).
Proposed law changes required minimum grade point average to 3.00. Also deletes the
minimum ACT score of 20 and replaces it with the average composite score reported for
students enrolled during the prior year at the institution at which the student is enrolled.
Present law provides with respect to the "Performance Award." Requires that the student
has a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50. Further requires that the student has
a composite score on the ACT of 23 or higher or an equivalent concordant value on any
enhanced or revised version of such test or on the SAT.
Proposed law deletes minimum ACT score of 23 and replaces it with requirement that the
minimum ACT score should be at least the average composite score reported for students
enrolled during the prior year at which the student is enrolled or an equivalent concordant
value on any enhanced or revised version of such test or on the SAT.
Present law provides with respect to the "Honors Award." Requires that the student has a
minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.50 and a score of 27 or higher on the ACT
or an equivalent concordant value on any enhanced or revised version of such test or on the
SAT.
Proposed law changes minimum grade point average to 3.70 and deletes the minimum ACT
score of 27 and replaces it with requirement that the minimum ACT score should be at least
the average composite score reported for students enrolled during the prior year at which the
student is enrolled or an equivalent concordant value on any enhanced or revised version of
such test or on the SAT.
Otherwise retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(1)(b)(i), (c)(i)(aa), and (d)(i))