The original instrument was prepared by Jay Lueckel. The following digest, which
does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was prepared by J. W.
Wiley.
DIGEST
Buffington (SB 655)
Present law provides for the establishment of the GO Grant program by the Board of Regents to
meet the financial need of certain students.
Present law provides for the establishment of the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for
Students (TOPS) award. Provides for the eligibility of the various TOPS awards and the
administrative requirements of TOPS.
Proposed law retains present law relative to Go Grant and TOPS and also provides that any
public or private entity, including any nonprofit organization, may make a directed donation to
any eligible postsecondary institution for a student who is a recipient of a Louisiana GO Grant or
a Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Students award.
Proposed law provides relative to the Go Grants Program and the TOPS Program that private
businesses, industry, foundations, charities, individuals and other groups may request the division
of administration to create privately funded scholarship programs to make payments to eligible
colleges and universities on behalf of eligible students.
Proposed law provides that the new private scholarship program shall in no way be interpreted in
such a manner that a student would receive less benefits from the private scholarship than he
would have from the Go Grant or TOPS Program had there been no private scholarship program.
Proposed law additionally provides relative to the scholarship programs for Go Grants and TOPS
awards, when an eligible college or university receives private scholarship funds on behalf of a
student, the annual appropriation of state funds shall be reduced by the amount of the private
scholarship funds so received. The state treasurer shall deposit the amount of the reduction as
specified by the commissioner of administration into the Overcollections Fund and credit the
deposit to an account in the fund known as the "Program Participation Savings Account".
Proposed law with respect to TOPS only provides that it is understood that a reduction shall not
effect the estimate nature of the TOPS appropriation as provided in the act or acts that contain
such appropriations.
Effective July 1, 2014.
(Amends R.S. 17:3046; adds R.S. 17: 3046.3 and 3048.1(M) and (Y)) Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Finance to the original bill
1. Adds a new section to the Go Grants Program and the TOPS Program that private
businesses, industry, foundations, charities, individuals and other groups may
request the division of administration to create privately funded scholarship
programs to make payments to eligible colleges and universities on behalf of
eligible students.
2. Provides that the new private scholarship program shall in no way be interpreted
in such a manner that a student would receive less benefits from the private
scholarship than he would have from the Go Grant or TOPS Program had there
been no private scholarship program.
3. Relative to the scholarship programs for Go Grants and TOPS awards, when an
eligible college or university receives private scholarship funds on behalf of a
student, the annual appropriation of state funds shall be reduced by the amount of
the private scholarship funds so received. The state treasurer shall deposit the
amount of the reduction as specified by the commissioner of administration into
the Overcollections Fund and credit the deposit to an account in the fund known
as the "Program Participation Savings Account".
4. For the TOPS Program, it is understood that a reduction shall not effect the
estimate nature of the TOPS appropriation as provided in the act or acts that
contain such appropriations.
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Makes technical changes.