SLS 16RS-348 ORIGINAL
2016 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 169
BY SENATOR MORRISH
TOPS. Provides relative to postsecondary institutions eligible to participate in the TOPS
programs. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:5027(B), to enact R.S. 17:5002.1, and to repeal R.S.
3 17:5002(B)(2) and (3) and R.S. 17:5027(D), relative to the Taylor Opportunity
4 Program for Students; to provide relative to the definition of "eligible college or
5 university"; to remove certain postsecondary institutions as eligible colleges and
6 universities; to provide for exceptions; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 17:5027(B) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S. 17:5002.1 is
9 hereby enacted to read as follows:
10 §5027. Postsecondary institution enrollment
11 A. * * *
12 B. "Eligible college or university" means a public college or university in this
13 state or a regionally accredited independent college or university in the state that is
14 a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
15 * * *
16 §5002.1. Awards and amounts; exceptions
17 A. A program award recipient enrolled in a regionally accredited
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 169
SLS 16RS-348 ORIGINAL
1 independent college or university in the state which is a member of the
2 Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities for the
3 2016-2017 award year and who is pursuing an academic undergraduate degree,
4 may use the remainder of his award eligibility at the institution in which he is
5 currently enrolled, or any eligible college or university in which he subsequently
6 enrolls, provided all program eligibility requirements are met. The award
7 amount shall be determined by the state administering agency to equal the
8 weighted average of amounts paid under this Section for students attending
9 public colleges and universities that offer academic undergraduate degrees at
10 the baccalaureate level.
11 B. A program award recipient enrolled for the 2016-2017 award year in
12 a school that has a valid and current certificate of registration issued by the
13 Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology in accordance with law and that is
14 accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States
15 Department of Education or in any proprietary school that has a valid and
16 current license issued by the Board of Regents in accordance with law and that
17 is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States
18 Department of Education, may use the remainder of his award eligibility at the
19 institution in which he is currently enrolled or any eligible institution in which
20 he subsequently enrolls, provided all program eligibility requirements are met.
21 The award amount shall be determined by the state administering agency to
22 equal the weighted average of amounts paid under this Section for students
23 attending public colleges and universities who are enrolled in the permitted skill
24 or occupational training, as may be applicable.
25 Section 2. R.S. 17:5002(B)(2) and (3) and R.S. 17:5027(D) are hereby repealed.
26 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
27 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
28 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
29 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 169
SLS 16RS-348 ORIGINAL
1 effective on the day following such approval.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett.
DIGEST
SB 169 Original 2016 Regular Session Morrish
Present law provides relative to 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 (GPA), ACT scores, and core curriculum
requirements and certain other qualifications.
Present law defines "eligible colleges and universities" as:
(1)A public college or university in this state.
(2)A regionally accredited independent college or university in the state that is a
member of Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities
(LAICU).
(3)A specified out-of-state nonpublic college or university designed to accommodate
deaf and hard-of-hearing students.
(4) Certain cosmetology schools.
(5)Certain proprietary schools.
Proposed law deletes LAICU member colleges and universities, cosmetology schools, and
proprietary schools from the definition of "eligible college and university".
Proposed law provides a program award recipient enrolled in LAICU member colleges and
universities, cosmetology, and proprietary schools in the 2016-2017 award year may use the
remainder of his award eligibility, provided all program eligibility requirements are met.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:5027(B), adds R.S. 17:5002.1, repeals R.S. 17:5002(B)(2) and (3) and R.S.
17:5027(D))
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.