The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
SB 110 Original 2017 Regular Session Luneau
Present law provides for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), a program of merit
scholarships for students attending certain postsecondary education institutions who meet specific
academic criteria and other requirements for initial eligibility.
Proposed law, applicable to students graduating from high school during or after the 2017-2018
school year:
(1)Requires award recipients, within one year of completing a bachelor's degree, postgraduate
degree, associate's degree, or shorter-term training or educational program as applicable, or
within one year of resigning from a postsecondary institution, to do one of the following:
(a)Demonstrate proof of residency in Louisiana for a time period equal to the number
of academic years, or fraction thereof, of award received by proof of as many of the
following as deemed necessary to verify residency:
(i)If registered to vote, is registered in Louisiana.
(ii)If licensed to drive a motor vehicle, is in possession of a Louisiana driver's
license.
(iii)If owning a motor vehicle located within Louisiana, is in possession of
Louisiana registration for that vehicle.
(iv)If earning an income, has filed a Louisiana state income tax return and has
complied with state income tax laws and regulations.
(v)Other proof as required by the administering agency by rule.
(b)Repay fifty percent of the award received for each full academic year, or fraction
thereof, for each year he fails to prove residency in La.
Proposed law requires the administering agency (the Board of Regents) to promulgate rules
necessary to implement proposed law, including provisions for the following:
(1)Collecting amounts owed and interest on unpaid amounts.
(2)Circumstances under which a student shall be excepted from the proposed law repayment
requirements; requires that these rules provide for the definition, certification requirements, and maximum duration of these circumstances, which shall be limited to the following
exceptions:
(a)Parental leave
(b)Physical rehabilitation program
(c)Substance abuse rehabilitation program
(d)Temporary disability
(e)Permanent disability
(f)Exceptional educational opportunity
(g)Religious commitment
(h)Death of immediate family
(i)Military service
(j)Transfer to a selective enrollment program
(k) Exceptional circumstances
Proposed law requires local and state agencies, including the Department of Revenue and the
Louisiana Workforce Commission, to provide such data to the administering agency as may be
necessary to implement the provisions of proposed law.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:5004 and 5004.1)