HLS 16RS-1104 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 655
BY REPRESENTATIVE NANCY LANDRY
SCHOOLS/CHOICE: Provides relative to the Student Scholarships for Educational
Excellence Program
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:4013(2)(a) and (b), relative to the Student Scholarships for
3 Educational Excellence Program; to provide relative to students who are eligible to
4 participate in the program; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 17:4013(2)(a) and (b) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as
7follows:
8 ยง4013. Definitions
9 As used in this Chapter, unless otherwise clearly indicated, the following
10 terms mean:
11 * * *
12 (2) "Eligible student" means a student who resides in Louisiana, is a member
13 of a family with a total income that does not exceed two hundred fifty percent of the
14 current federal poverty guidelines as established by the federal office of management
15 and budget, and who meets any one of the following criteria:
16 (a) Is entering prekindergarten or kindergarten and has enrolled in the local
17 school system in which the public school he would have otherwise attended is
18 located or in a school under the jurisdiction of the Recovery School District. Each
19 local school system or the Recovery School District shall conduct its annual
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-1104 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 655
1 kindergarten enrollment process and shall report such enrollment to the department
2 prior to the program enrollment process.
3 (b) Was enrolled in a public school in Louisiana on October first and on
4 February first of the most recent school year pursuant to the definition of student
5 membership established by the state board for purposes of the minimum foundation
6 program formula, and such school received a letter grade of "C", "D", or "F" or any
7 variation thereof, for the most recent year pursuant to the school and district
8 accountability system.
9 * * *
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 655 Original 2016 Regular Session Nancy Landry
Abstract: Revises the definition of "eligible student" for purposes of participation in the
Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program.
Present law establishes the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program and
defines "eligible student" for purposes of program participation. Provides that to be eligible,
a student shall reside in La., be a member of a family with a total income that does not
exceed 250% of the current federal poverty guidelines, and meet any one of several criteria.
Present law specifies these criteria, and proposed law revises them, as follows:
(1) Is entering kindergarten and has enrolled in the local school system in which the
public school he would have otherwise attended is located or in a school under the
jurisdiction of the Recovery School District (RSD). Proposed law provides that to
meet this criterion, a student shall be entering either kindergarten or prekindergarten.
(2)Was enrolled in a public school in La. on Oct. 1st and on Feb. 1st of the most recent
school year pursuant to the definition of student membership established by the State
Bd. of Elementary and Secondary Education for purposes of the minimum
foundation program formula, and such school received a letter grade of "C", "D", or
"F", or any variation thereof, for the most recent year pursuant to the school and
district accountability system. Proposed law revises this criterion by removing the
requirement that such school shall have received such letter grade for the most recent
year and otherwise retains present law.
(3) Received a scholarship pursuant to present law in the previous school year. Proposed
law retains present law.
(Amends R.S. 17:4013(2)(a) and (b))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.