HLS 16RS-610 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 367
BY REPRESENTATIVE AMEDEE
STUDENT/LOANS-SCHOLARSHP: Reduces the amount of a student's Taylor
Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) award according to need-based financial
aid, that can be applied to tuition
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:5002(B) and (D)(2) and to enact R.S. 17:5002.1, relative to
3 the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students; to provide for a reduction in the
4 amount of a student's program award if he is the recipient of need-based financial aid
5 that can be applied to tuition; to provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related
6 matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. 17:5002(B) and (D)(2) are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
917:5002.1 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §5002. Awards and amounts
11 * * *
12 B. (1) Any student who is eligible for an Opportunity, Performance, or
13 Honors Award pursuant to this Chapter and who has enrolled:
14 (1) (a) In any public college or university in this state, shall be awarded by
15 the state an amount determined by the administering agency to equal the tuition
16 charged by the public college or university.
17 (2) (b) At any regionally accredited independent college or university in the
18 state which is a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and
19 Universities to pursue an academic undergraduate degree, shall be awarded by the
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HB NO. 367
1 state an amount to be determined by the administering agency to equal the weighted
2 average of amounts paid under this Section for students attending public colleges and
3 universities that offer academic undergraduate degrees at the baccalaureate level.
4 (3) (c) In a school that has a valid and current certificate of registration
5 issued by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology in accordance with law and that
6 is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States
7 Department of Education or in any proprietary school that has a valid and current
8 license issued by the Board of Regents in accordance with law and that is accredited
9 by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of
10 Education, shall be awarded by the state an amount determined by the administering
11 agency to equal the weighted average of amounts paid under this Section for students
12 attending public colleges and universities who are enrolled in the permitted skill or
13 occupational training, as may be applicable.
14 (4) (d) In an out-of-state college or university that is specifically designed
15 to accommodate deaf and hard-of-hearing students under R.S. 17:5027(C), shall be
16 awarded an amount determined by the administering agency to equal the weighted
17 average of amounts paid under this Section for students attending Louisiana public
18 colleges and universities that offer academic undergraduate degrees.
19 (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, if the
20 student has been awarded need-based financial aid that can be applied to tuition, the
21 amount the student shall be awarded by the state pursuant to this Chapter shall be the
22 otherwise applicable award amount provided in that Paragraph less the amount of
23 such need-based financial aid.
24 * * *
25 D.
26 * * *
27 (2) A student who graduated prior to the 2016-2017 school year, who is
28 eligible for a TOPS-Tech Award pursuant to this Chapter, and who is enrolled:
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HB NO. 367
1 (a) In an eligible college or university that does not offer an academic
2 undergraduate degree at the baccalaureate level shall be awarded by the state an
3 amount determined by the administering agency to equal the tuition charged by the
4 college or university.
5 (b) In an eligible college or university other than as provided for in
6 Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be awarded by the state an amount
7 determined by the administering agency to equal the weighted average of amounts
8 paid to students attending an eligible public college or university that does not offer
9 an academic undergraduate degree at the baccalaureate level. Notwithstanding the
10 provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection, if the student has been awarded
11 need-based financial aid that can be applied to tuition, the amount the student shall
12 be awarded by the state pursuant to this Chapter shall be the otherwise applicable
13 award amount provided in that Paragraph less the amount of such need-based
14 financial aid.
15 * * *
16 §5002.1. Awards and amounts; exceptions
17 A. The following provisions shall not be applicable to students graduating
18 from high school prior to the 2019-2020 school year:
19 (1) R.S. 17:5002(B)(2).
20 (2) R.S. 17:5002(D)(2).
21 B. Notwithstanding R.S. 17:5002(D), a student who graduated from high
22 school prior to the 2016-2017 school year, who is eligible for a TOPS-Tech Award
23 pursuant to this Chapter, and who is enrolled:
24 (1) In an eligible college or university that does not offer an academic
25 undergraduate degree at the baccalaureate level shall be awarded by the state an
26 amount determined by the administering agency to equal the tuition charged by the
27 college or university.
28 (2) In an eligible college or university other than as provided for in
29 Paragraph (1) of this Subsection shall be awarded by the state an amount determined
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HB NO. 367
1 by the administering agency to equal the weighted average of amounts paid to
2 students attending an eligible public college or university that does not offer an
3 academic undergraduate degree at the baccalaureate level.
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 367 Original 2016 Regular Session Amedee
Abstract: Provides for a reduction in Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)
award amounts according to the amount of a student's need-based financial aid, if
any, that can be applied to tuition; applicable to students graduating from high school
during or after the 2019-20 school year.
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 initial eligibility requirements, including academic requirements pertaining to
grade point average (GPA), ACT score, and core curricula. TOPS award amounts vary
depending on the type of award and the type of college or university, as follows:
TOPS-Tech Award
Institution Type Award Amount
Public college or university that does not
offer an academic undergraduate degree
at the baccalaureate level
Tuition charged by the institution
Other eligible college or university Equal to the weighted average of amounts
paid to students attending an eligible
public college or university that does not
offer an academic undergraduate degree
at the baccalaureate level
Opportunity, Performance, or Honors Award
Institution Type Award Amount
La. public college or university Tuition charged by the institution
La. nonpublic college or university Weighted average of amounts paid for
students attending La. public colleges and
universities that offer academic
undergraduate degrees at the
baccalaureate level
Out-of-state college or university
designed to accommodate deaf and hard-
of-hearing students
Weighted average of amounts paid for
students attending La. public colleges and
universities that offer academic
undergraduate degrees
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HB NO. 367
Certain cosmetology and proprietary
schools
Weighted average of amounts for students
attending public colleges and universities
who are enrolled in skill or occupational
training
Proposed law retains present law for students graduating from high school prior to the 2019-
2020 school year, but, applicable to students graduating during or after that school year,
provides that if a student has been awarded need-based financial aid that can be applied to
tuition, his TOPS award amount shall be the otherwise applicable award amount less the
amount of the need-based financial aid.
(Amends R.S. 17:5002(B) and (D)(2); Adds R.S. 17:5002.1)
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