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Regular Session, 2014
SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 123
BY SENATOR ADLEY
TOPS. Requests the Senate Committee on Finance to study the feasibility of selling the
naming rights for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students.
A RESOLUTION1
To urge and request the Senate Committee on Finance to study the feasibility of selling the2
naming rights for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students.3
WHEREAS, the selling of naming rights has generated an aggregate value in excess4
of one billion six hundred million dollars to its authorizing entities nationwide; and 5
WHEREAS, the naming rights to the Louisiana Superdome were recently sold to6
Mercedes Benz for almost nine million dollars per year; and 7
WHEREAS, the naming rights to the New Orleans Arena were recently sold to8
Smoothie King for approximately four million dollars per year; and 9
WHEREAS, local governing authorities across the country have begun selling the10
naming rights of bus and train stations, and other publically owned facilities; and 11
WHEREAS, selling the naming rights of publically owned facilities benefit both the12
seller through increased revenue, and the purchaser through increased exposure; and 13
WHEREAS, the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, or TOPS, while not made14
of brick and mortar, is one of the most visible and well-known programs in Louisiana; and15
WHEREAS, almost all high school students, their parents and grandparents, high16
school and college employees, and the general public are aware of TOPS; and 17
WHEREAS, since fiscal year 1998-1999, over six hundred seventy-three thousand18 SR NO. 123
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TOPS awards have been distributed to Louisiana's students at a cost of nearly one billion1
nine hundred thousand dollars; and 2
WHEREAS, for the upcoming school year over fifty-two thousand students will3
qualify for TOPS at a cost to the state of two hundred fifty million dollars, while only two4
hundred thirty-five million dollars was provided for the program in the governor's budget;5
and6
WHEREAS, selling the naming rights to TOPS could create another revenue stream7
to assist with funding the program and allow state general funds to be used for other8
purposes.9
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Senate of the Legislature of Louisiana10
does hereby request the Senate Committee on Finance to study the feasibility of selling the11
naming rights for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students.12
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the committee make its recommendation to the13
Senate no later than February 1, 2015.14
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this resolution be sent to the chairman15
of the Senate Committee on Finance, the commissioner of higher education, and the16
executive director of the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance.17
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Alan Miller.
DIGEST
Adley SR No. 123
Requests the Senate Committee on Finance to study the feasibility of selling the naming
rights for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students.
Requires the Senate Committee on Finance to make its recommendation to the Senate no
later than February 1, 2015.