The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
Donahue (SB 520)
Present law provides for minimum academic standards required for initial eligibility for awards
pursuant to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) for students who graduate from
a La. public high school or a nonpublic high school approved by the State Board of Elementary
and Secondary Education (BESE) as follows:
(1)For an Opportunity award, the student must have a minimum grade point average (GPA)
on the core curriculum of 2.50 calculated on a 4.00 scale, and a composite ACT score (or
concordant Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) score) of 20.
(2)For a Performance award, the student must have a minimum GPA on the core curriculum
of 3.00 calculated on a 4.00 scale, and a composite ACT score (or concordant SAT score)
of 23.
(3)For an Honors award, the student must have a minimum GPA on the core curriculum of
3.00 calculated on a 4.00 scale, and a composite ACT score (or concordant SAT score) of
27.
Proposed law retains present law for students graduating from high school through the 2016-
2017 school year.
Proposed law provides, effective for students graduating from high school during the 2017-2018
school year and thereafter, that the minimum GPA and ACT score (or SAT concordant score)
required for initial eligibility for a TOPS award shall be as follows:
(1)For an Opportunity award, the student must have a minimum GPA on the core curriculum
of 2.75 calculated on a 4.00 scale, and a composite ACT score (or concordant SAT score)
of 21.
(2)For a Performance award, the student must have a minimum GPA on the core curriculum
of 3.00 calculated on a 4.00 scale, and a composite ACT score (or concordant SAT score)
of 25.
(3)For an Honors award, the student must have a minimum GPA on the core curriculum of
3.00 calculated on a 4.00 scale, and a composite ACT score (or concordant SAT score) of
29.
Present law requires that a student who has successfully completed a BESE-approved home
study program at the 12th-grade level must have a composite ACT score (or the specified equivalent) that is at least two points higher than that required for a student graduating from a La.
public high school or BESE-approved nonpublic high school to be eligible for an Opportunity
Award, and at least one point higher to qualify for a Performance or Honors award.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides for the La. GO Grant program to provide financial assistance to
postsecondary students with demonstrated financial need and who meet the eligibility
requirements established for participation in the program as follows:
(1)Is a La. resident at the time of application.
(2)Meets the admission requirements and is enrolled in a La. public college or university or a
regionally accredited independent college or university that is a member of the La.
Association of Independent Colleges and Universities "eligible colleges and universities".
(3)Is a recipient of a federal Pell Grant or has submitted a Free Application for Federal
Student Aid and is a recipient of a financial need grant from an eligible college or
university or any other need-based aid as determined by the Bd. of Regents (BOR).
(4)Is determined to have unmet need with regards to the ability to pay the cost of attendance
for the eligible college or university in which the student is enrolled.
(5)Maintains steady academic progress as defined by the BOR for continued participation.
(6)Meets any other eligibility criteria the BOR may require.
Present law requires the Bd. of Regents to establish the criteria for initial and continuing
eligibility, the method for determining the award amount, and other program requirements as
required by the board . Further provides that the La. Student Financial Assistance Commission,
through the office of student financial assistance, shall administer the program.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally provides that beginning with the 2018-2019
fiscal year, the legislature shall appropriate ten percent of any savings attributable to the
implementation of Section 1 of proposed law for the purpose of increasing the number of
students participating in the La. GO Grant program. Further provides that the monies
appropriated by the legislature for the GO Grant program pursuant to proposed law shall not
displace, replace, or supplant the average amount of the monies appropriated by the legislature
for the program for the three most recent fiscal years.
Proposed law provides that beginning in 2017, the Legislative Fiscal Office shall issue a fiscal
and economic impact statement on December first of each year documenting the projected dollar
amount of the savings as provided in Paragraph (1) of this Subsection for the ensuing fiscal year.
Further provides that the legislative fiscal officer shall forward this annual statement to the
commissioner of administration for use in developing the budgets for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students and the Go Grant program.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:3048.1(C)(5); adds 17:3046.3 and 3048.1(A)(1)(b)(iii), (c)(iv), and (d)(iii))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the original bill
1. Restores the minimum GPA required in proposed law for the opportunity award
from 3.00 to 2.75 and restored the minimum GPA required for the Performance
and Honors awards to the 3.00 required in present law.
2. Reduces the minimum ACT scores required in proposed law for the Opportunity
and Performance awards.
3. Requires the Legislative Fiscal Office to develop an annual economic impact
statement projecting the savings attributable to proposed law to be forwarded to
the commissioner of administration for use in developing budgets for TOPS and
GO Grants.