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 390 Original 2016 Regular Session Nancy Landry
Abstract: Fixes Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) award amounts at the 2016-17
academic year level.
Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), Generally
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 Opportunity, Performance and Honors Awards (eight semesters) and TOPS-Tech
Awards (two years).
Establishment of Baseline Award Amounts
Present law provides as follows relative to the amount awarded for recipients of a TOPS-Tech
Award, which is only awarded if a student is enrolled in programs aligned to state workforce
priorities as determined by the Bd. of Regents and La. Workforce Investment Council:
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
Present law provides as follows relative to the amount awarded to recipients of Opportunity,
Performance, or Honors awards: 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
Certain cosmetology and proprietary schoolsWeighted average of amounts for students
attending public colleges and universities who
are enrolled in skill or occupational training
Proposed law provides that amounts for all TOPS awards shall not increase beyond the amount
awarded in the 2016-17 academic year.
ACT Score
Present law provides that to qualify for an Opportunity Award, a student must have a composite
ACT score equal to or higher than the state average composite score, rounded to the nearest whole
number, reported for the previous year, but never less than 20.
Proposed law retains the requirement that a student have a minimum ACT score equal to or greater
than the state average, but never less than 20, but specifies that the state average be truncated to a
whole number instead of being rounded to the nearest whole number.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:5002(A), (B), and (D) and 5024(B)(1)(a))