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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)]
Buffington SB No. 657
Present law establishes the Cecil J. Picard LA 4 Early Childhood Program (LA 4), a program
for early childhood development and enrichment activity classes. Requires the state Dept.
of Education to allocate funding out of monies appropriated for such purpose. Proposed law
authorizes any public or private entity, including a nonprofit organization, to make a directed
donation to a participating school district for a student who is enrolled in LA 4 classes, as
follows:
(1)Authorizes private businesses, industry, foundations, charities, and other groups to
make a request to the division of administration that they may create privately
funded scholarship programs to make payments to participating school districts on
behalf of qualified students.
(2)Provides that if the division approves such a program, funds received by a school
district from the program shall cause an equivalent reduction in the amount allocated
to the district.
(3)Prohibits the following:
(a)The interpretation of proposed law in a manner that would cause a school
district to receive less benefits than it would have received.
(b)The construal or implementation of proposed law in a manner that would
cause the loss of any funding for early childhood programs or services.
(4)Provides that if a district receives scholarship funds, the annual appropriation of state
funds for the LA 4 Program shall be reduced by the amount of such funds.
(5)Requires the state treasurer to (a) deposit the amount of the reduction as specified by
the commissioner of administration into the present law Overcollections Fund and
(b) credit the deposit to an account within the fund created by proposed law and
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 RDCSB657 224 5922
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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".
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
reengrossed bill.
1. Adds that nothing in proposed law shall be construed or implemented in a
manner that would cause the loss of any federal or other funding that a
participating school district would receive for the LA 4 program or other early
childhood programs or services.