HLS 15RS-1195 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 546
BY REPRESENTATIVE PRICE
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
STUDENT/LOANS-SCHOLARSHP: Provides relative to courses of study or programs
eligible for TOPS-Tech awards for certain students
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3048.1(B)(2)(introductory paragraph) and (4)(b), relative to
3 the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students; to provide relative to TOPS-Tech
4 awards; to provide with respect to programs or courses of study eligible for such
5 awards for certain students; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:3048.1(B)(2)(introductory paragraph) and (4)(b) are hereby
8amended and reenacted to read as follows:
9 ยง3048.1. Program awards; eligibility; amounts; limitations; funding; administration
10 * * *
11 B.
12 * * *
13 (2) As part of the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, for
14 students graduating from high school through the 1999-2000 school year the state
15 shall award an amount determined by the administering agency to equal the actual
16 cost of tuition of any student who enrolls on a full-time basis in a Louisiana public
17 postsecondary institution to pursue skill or occupational training, including a
18 vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program or a nonacademic
19 undergraduate degree, and who meets the following qualifications and all other
20 applicable qualifications of this Chapter and for students graduating from high
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-1195 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 546
1 school during the 2000-2001 school year and thereafter the state shall award an
2 amount determined by the administering agency in accordance with the provisions
3 of Subparagraph (f) of this Paragraph for any student who enrolls on a full-time basis
4 in an eligible college or university as defined in Subsection A of this Section to
5 pursue skill or occupational training as defined by the Board of Regents aligned to
6 state workforce priorities as determined by the Louisiana Workforce Investment
7 Council, including a vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program
8 or a nonacademic undergraduate degree, and who meets the following qualifications
9 and all other applicable qualifications of this Chapter:
10 * * *
11 (4)
12 * * *
13 (b) For a student who is the recipient of a TOPS-Tech award and who enrolls
14 in a school that is eligible pursuant to the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this
15 Paragraph to pursue skill or occupational training as defined by the Board of Regents
16 aligned to state workforce priorities as determined by the Louisiana Workforce
17 Investment Council, including a vocational or technical education certificate or
18 diploma program or a nonacademic undergraduate degree, the state shall award an
19 amount determined by the administering agency to equal the weighted average of
20 amounts paid under this Section for students attending public colleges and
21 universities who are enrolled in the permitted skill or occupational training, as may
22 be applicable.
23 * * *
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)]
HB 546 Original 2015 Regular Session Price
Abstract: Provides relative to courses of study or programs eligible for TOPS-Tech awards
for certain students.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-1195 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 546
Present law provides for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) as a program
of merit scholarships for students attending certain postsecondary education institutions who
meet specific grade point average, ACT score, and core curriculum requirements and certain
other qualifications. Provides for the TOPS-Tech award for students who enroll in certain
colleges and universities to pursue skill or occupational training, including vocational or
technical education certificates or diploma programs or nonacademic undergraduate degrees.
Further provides for the amounts awarded to TOPS-Tech award recipients.
Proposed law deletes the pursuit of a nonacademic undergraduate degree from the list of
programs or courses of study eligible for TOPS-Tech awards. Also, requires that programs
or courses of study for skill or occupational training be aligned to state workforce priorities
as determined by the La. Workforce Investment Council rather than as defined by the Bd.
of Regents.
(Amends R.S. 17:3048.1(B)(2)(intro. para.) and (4)(b))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.