HLS 16RS-567 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 437
BY REPRESENTATIVE IVEY
STUDENT/LOANS-SCHOLARSHP: Adjusts certain academic requirements for
maintaining eligibility for certain Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)
awards
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:5041(3) and to enact R.S. 17:5041.1, relative to the Taylor
3 Opportunity Program for Students; to adjust certain academic requirements for
4 maintaining eligibility for certain awards; to provide for applicability; and to provide
5 for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:5041(3) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 17:5041.1 is
8hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §5041. Maintaining eligibility; Honors, Performance, Opportunity
10 To maintain continued state payment of an amount equal to tuition and other
11 amounts for an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors Award pursuant to this Chapter
12 once enrolled in college, a student shall meet all of the following:
13 * * *
14 (3) For students qualifying for an Opportunity Award, have a cumulative
15 grade point average of the following as evaluated at the end of each academic year:
16 (a) At least 2.30 2.50 calculated on a 4.00 scale after completion of twenty-
17 four hours of credit.
18 (b) At least 2.50 2.75 calculated on a 4.00 scale after completion of forty-
19 eight hours of credit.
20 * * *
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-567 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 437
1 §5041.1. Maintaining eligibility; Honors, Performance, Opportunity; exceptions
2 Notwithstanding R.S. 17:5041(3), to maintain continued state payment of an
3 amount equal to tuition for an Opportunity Award pursuant to this Chapter once
4 enrolled in college, a student who graduated from high school prior to the 2019-2020
5 school year shall have a cumulative grade point average of the following as
6 evaluated at the end of each academic year:
7 (1) At least 2.30 calculated on a 4.00 scale after completion of twenty-four
8 hours of credit.
9 (2) At least 2.50 calculated on a 4.00 scale after completion of forty-eight
10 hours of credit.
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 437 Original 2016 Regular Session Ivey
Abstract: Raises minimum grade point average requirements for maintaining eligibility for
a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) Opportunity Award.
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. Also provides academic
requirements for maintaining eligibility once enrolled in college, including maintaining
full-time status and a minimum cumulative GPA.
For students qualifying for an Opportunity Award, present law requires a minimum
cumulative GPA of 2.30 after 24 credit hours and 2.50 after 48 credit hours. Proposed law
increases these minimum GPA requirements from 2.30 to 2.50 and from 2.50 to 2.75,
respectively. Proposed law is applicable to students graduating from high school during or
after the 2019-2020 school year.
For students qualifying for a Performance or Honors Award, present law requires a
minimum cumulative GPA of 3.00 at the end of each academic year. For students qualifying
for a TOPS-Tech Award, present law requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.50.
Proposed law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 17:5041(3); Adds R.S. 17:5041.1)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.