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))