HLS 14RS-486 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 997
BY REPRESENTATIVE HUNTER
STUDENT/LOANS-SCHOLARSHP: Places certain residency and program of study
requirements on Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) award recipients
and authorizes use of TOPS awards for postgraduate study in certain circumstances
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(4)(f), (Y), and (Z) relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program2
for Students; to provide relative to continued eligibility for such awards; to place3
certain residency or repayment requirements on recipients of program awards; to4
authorize the use of funds for postgraduate study if certain conditions are met; and5
to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(4)(f), (Y), and (Z) are hereby enacted to read as8
follows:9
ยง3048.1. Program awards; eligibility; amounts; limitations; funding; administration10
A.11
* * *12
(4) To maintain continued state payment of an amount equal to tuition and13
other amounts pursuant to an award under this Chapter once enrolled in college a14
student shall meet all of the following:15
* * *16
(f) For a student who first enrolls in an eligible institution for or during the17
2014-2015 academic year or thereafter, such student is pursuing a degree or skill or18
occupational training that would qualify him for employment in a four or five star19 HLS 14RS-486 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 997
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job, on a statewide basis, as defined by the Louisiana Workforce Commission.1
Notwithstanding any provision of this Subparagraph to the contrary, such student2
shall remain eligible to receive the award if all other requirements pursuant to this3
Paragraph are met and after he enrolls in but before he completes the program that4
would qualify him for employment in such four or five star job, the job is no longer5
defined as a four or five star job.6
* * *7
Y.(1) Notwithstanding any provision of this Chapter to the contrary, an8
otherwise qualified student who meets each of the following conditions may use the9
program award provided for by this Section to pursue a postgraduate academic10
degree at an eligible Louisiana institution:11
(a) The student has been determined by the administering agency to meet the12
initial eligibility requirements established by this Section for an Opportunity,13
Performance, or Honors award.14
(b) The student first enrolled as a full-time postsecondary student in an15
out-of-state college or university that is accredited by a regional accrediting16
organization recognized by the United States Department of Education and remains17
enrolled in and graduates from the college or university.18
(c) While enrolled in such a college or university, the student met all19
requirements of this Section for continuation of the initial award that would have20
been applicable to the student if he had enrolled in an eligible college or university21
in Louisiana.22
(d) The student graduated from high school during the 2010-2011 school23
year or thereafter.24
(2) The amount of the award provided for in this Subsection shall not exceed25
the amounts determined by the administering agency to equal the tuition charged for26
the postgraduate study or for undergraduate full-time enrollment charged by the27
highest cost public college or university in the state, whichever amount is less.28 HLS 14RS-486 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 997
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(3)(a) A student may continue to receive the award provided for in this1
Subsection if he continues to meet all academic and other requirements, as provided2
by this Section and by rule of the administering agency as applicable to an3
undergraduate for continued receipt of the award, including any modifications of4
such requirements by the administering agency that are necessary to apply such5
requirements to postgraduate study.6
(b) A student may receive the award provided for in this Subsection for not7
more than three academic years or the equivalent number of semesters or quarters8
and shall not receive an award for any term that begins more than seven years after9
the student graduated from high school.10
Z.(1) For a recipient of an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors award11
pursuant to this Section who first enrolls in an eligible institution for or during the12
2014-2015 academic year or thereafter, upon completion of a bachelor's or13
postgraduate degree, as applicable, such recipient shall do one of the following:14
(a) Reside in Louisiana for at least one year for each full academic year of15
award received pursuant to this Section.16
(b) Repay a full academic year of award for each year he fails to comply17
with Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph.18
(2) If such student loses eligibility to receive further awards provided for by19
this Section for any reason other than completion of a bachelor's or postgraduate20
degree or receipt for eight semesters or the equivalent, he shall repay all amounts21
received as awards.22
(3) If such student is required to repay awards pursuant to this Subsection,23
he shall:24
(a) Repay amounts in the reverse order from that in which they were25
received.26
(b) Repay one year of award within each calendar year until all awards have27
been repaid; the student shall not be required to pay any interest on amounts owed28
if they are paid in accordance with this Subparagraph.29 HLS 14RS-486 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 997
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(4) If such student is required to repay awards pursuant to this Subsection,1
he may defer such repayment and no interest shall accrue:2
(a) While he is a full time student pursuing an associate, undergraduate, or3
graduate degree.4
(b) While he is engaged in active duty service with the U.S. military.5
(5) The provisions of this Subsection shall not apply to a student who6
completes a degree at a Louisiana college or university and accepts employment and7
remains employed in any of the following for at least four years:8
(a) Government service including military service.9
(b) Employment with a company that is based in Louisiana.10
(c) Employment with a nonprofit organization that qualifies as tax-exempt11
pursuant to Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.12
(6) The administering agency may promulgate rules necessary to implement13
the provisions of this Subsection. Such rules shall include provision for all available14
means of collecting amounts owed and interest on unpaid amounts.15
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)]
Hunter HB No. 997
Abstract: Authorizes use of TOPS awards for postgraduate study in certain circumstances;
requires recipients of TOPS awards to (1) pursue a field of study that will qualify the
recipient for employment in certain categories of jobs, (2) repay awards unless the
recipient completes a bachelor's or postgraduate degree and resides in La. for at least
one year for each year of award received.
Continuing Eligibility for Award
Present law requires that a recipient of a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)
award meet certain criteria in order to maintain continued receipt of such award. Such
criteria include, but are not limited to:
(1)Earning enough credits to maintain full-time status as a student.
(2)Maintain a minimum required grade point average, depending on the type of award
received.
(3)Have no criminal conviction, except for misdemeanor traffic violations. HLS 14RS-486 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 997
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are additions.
Proposed law adds a requirement that the student pursue a degree or skill or occupational
training that would qualify him for employment in a four or five star job, on a statewide
basis, as defined by the Louisiana Workforce Commission. Further provides that a student
shall remain eligible for an award if all other conditions of present law are met and if after
the student enrolls in but before he completes the program of study such job is no longer
defined as a four or five star job.
Awards for Postgraduate Study
Proposed law provides that an otherwise qualified student who meets each of the following
conditions may use the TOPS award to pursue a postgraduate academic degree at an eligible
La. institution:
(1)The student meets the initial eligibility requirements for an Opportunity,
Performance, or Honors award.
(2)The student first enrolled as a postsecondary student in and 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 a college or university, the student met all requirements for
continuation of the initial award that would have been applicable had he been
enrolled in a La. college or university.
(4)The student graduated from high school during the 2010-2011 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 or university
in the state, whichever is less.
Provides that the student may continue to receive the award if he continues to meet all
academic and other requirements for continued receipt of the award as applicable to an
undergraduate, including any modifications of such requirements made by the administering
agency as needed to apply such requirements to postgraduate study.
Permits student to receive the award for not more than three academic years or the
equivalent number of semesters or quarters; prohibits receipt of the award for a term that
begins more than seven years after high school graduation.
Repayment of Award Amounts
Proposed law provides that for an award recipient first enrolling in an eligible institution for
or during the 2014-2015 academic year or thereafter, upon completion of a bachelor's or
postgraduate degree, such former recipient of an award shall either reside in La for at least
one year for each year of award he received or repay one year of award for each year he fails
to meet this residency requirement. Requires any such recipient who loses eligibility to
receive awards to repay amounts received.
Proposed law requires that the former recipient repay amounts in the reverse order from that
in which they were received and repay one year of awards within each calendar year until
all awards have been repaid. Authorizes deferral of repayment for full-time students and
those engaged in military service. Waives the repayment requirement for a recipient who
completes a degree and works for at least four years in any of the following: government
service including military service; for a La.-based company; or for a nonprofit organization. HLS 14RS-486 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 997
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are additions.
Proposed law authorizes the administering agency to promulgate rules necessary to
implement proposed law, including provision for collecting amounts owed and interest on
unpaid amounts.
(Adds R.S. 17:3048.1(A)(4)(f), (Y), and (Z))