The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Jay R. Lueckel.
DIGEST
Buffington (SB 657)
Present law establishes the Cecil J. Picard LA 4 Early Childhood Program to serve participating
city, parish, and other local public school systems. Provides for eligibility, requirements, and
funding provisions.
Proposed law retains present law and also provides that any public or private entity, including
any nonprofit organization, may make a directed donation to any participating school district for
a student who is enrolled in Cecil J. Picard LA 4 Early Childhood Program classes.
Proposed law enacts new section of law for financial assistance relative to the Cecil J. Picard LA
4 Early Childhood Program.
Proposed law provides that private businesses, industry, foundations, charities, individuals and
other groups may request the division of administration to create a privately funded scholarship
program to make payments to participating school districts on behalf of qualified students.
Proposed law requires that the new private scholarship program shall in no way be interpreted in
such a manner that a participating school district would receive less benefits from the private
scholarship than it would have from the existing Cecil J. Picard LA 4 Early Childhood Program
had there been no private scholarship program.
Proposed law further provides that when an eligible school district receives private scholarship
funds, 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".
Effective July 1, 2014.
(Adds R.S. 17:407.26)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Finance to the original bill
1. Enacts new section of law for financial assistance relative to the Cecil J. Picard
LA 4 Early Childhood Program.
2. Adds a new section to the Cecil J. Picard LA 4 Early Childhood Program that private businesses, industry, foundations, charities, individuals and other groups
may request the division of administration to create a privately funded scholarship
program to make payments to participating school districts on behalf of qualified
students.
3. Provides that the new private scholarship program shall in no way be interpreted
in such a manner that a participating school district would receive less benefits
from the private scholarship than it would have from the existing Cecil J. Picard
LA 4 Early Childhood Program had there been no private scholarship program.
4. Relative to the scholarship programs for the Cecil J. Picard LA 4 Early Childhood
Program, provides that when an eligible school district receives private
scholarship funds, 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".