HLS 16RS-421 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 137
BY REPRESENTATIVE SMITH
SCHOOLS/CHOICE: Prohibits the state Dept. of Education from awarding first-time
vouchers to students
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 17:4026, relative to the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence
3 Program; to prohibit the state Department of Education from awarding scholarships
4 to students who have not previously received a scholarship; to provide for
5 effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:4026 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง4026. Scholarship awarding; prohibited
9 For the 2016-2017 school year and thereafter, the department shall only
10 award a scholarship to a student who was a scholarship recipient in a previous school
11 year.
12 Section 2. A scholarship awarded by the state Department of Education to a student
13who would otherwise be a first-time scholarship recipient for the 2016-2017 school year is
14null and void.
15 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
16signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
17by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
18vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
19effective on the day following such approval.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-421 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 137
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 137 Original 2016 Regular Session Smith
Abstract: Prohibits, for the 2016-2017 school year and thereafter, the state Dept. of
Education from awarding first-time vouchers to students.
Present law establishes a voucher program known as the Student Scholarships for
Educational Excellence Program. Provides for student and school eligibility requirements,
funding and payment procedures, program administration, and testing and reporting
requirements. Proposed law prohibits the state Dept. of Education from awarding a
scholarship to a student unless he has received one previously and provides that a
scholarship awarded by the department to a student who would otherwise be a first-time
scholarship recipient for the 2016-2017 school year is null and void.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:4026)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.