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 914 Original 2016 Regular Session Robby Carter
Abstract: Provides that a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) award may no longer
be used at cosmetology and proprietary schools and that a TOPS-Tech Early Start Award
may no longer be used to fund courses offered by training providers.
Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, generally
Present law provides for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) as a program of merit
scholarships for students attending "eligible colleges and universities" 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), as well as TOPS-Tech Early Start Awards for certain high school students.
Present law defines an "eligible college or university" generally as a La. college or university that
is either (1) public or (2) a member of the La. Assoc. of Independent Colleges and Universities
(LAICU). Present law, for students pursuing skill or occupational training, broadens the definition
of "eligible college or university" to include certain cosmetology and proprietary schools.
Proposed law, applicable to students graduating from high school during or after the 2016-2017
school year, eliminates the option of using a TOPS award at a cosmetology or proprietary school.
Present law also allows a student to use an award at an out-of-state institution that serves primarily
deaf and hard-of-hearing students. Proposed law retains present law.
TOPS-Tech Early Start Award
Present law establishes the TOPS-Tech Early Start Award for eligible 11th and 12th grade public
school students and authorizes its use to fund, subject to the appropriation of funds for this purpose,
any technical or applied course leading to specified certificates offered by the following La. entities:
(1)Public postsecondary education institutions.
(2)Nonpublic postsecondary education institutions.
(3)Training providers.
Proposed law, applicable to students graduating from high school during or after the 2017-2018 school year, limits the nonpublic institutions at which this award may be used to fund such courses
to LAICU member institutions and eliminates the authority to use this award to fund courses offered
by training providers.
(Amends R.S. 17:5081(B)(1)(intro. para.) and (3) and (E)(3); Adds R.S. 17:5002.1, 5027.1, and
5081.1; Repeals R.S. 17:5002(B)(3) and (D)(1)(b) and (2), 5027(C) and (D), and 5081(B)(4))