The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
SB 71 Engrossed 2017 Regular Session Donahue
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.
Present law provides that the award amounts for a TOPS Opportunity, Performance, Honors, or
TOPS-Tech award shall be equal to the award amount paid for a student enrolled in a public or
nonpublic postsecondary institution during the 2016-2017 academic year.
Present law also provides that:
(1)A student enrolled in a public college or university shall be awarded an amount equal to the
tuition charged by the public college or university during the 2016-2017 academic year.
(2)A student enrolled in a nonpublic college or university, a school of Cosmetology, or an out-
of-state college or university specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard-of-hearing
students shall be awarded an amount equal to the weighted award amount paid to students
attending a public postsecondary institution during the 2016-2017 academic year.
Proposed law resolves the inconsistent terminology in present law by providing that, unless increased
by the legislature:
(1)The amount of a TOPS award paid to a student enrolled in a public postsecondary institution
shall be equal to the tuition amount charged by the public college or university during the
2016-2017 academic year.
(2)The amount of a TOPS award paid to a student enrolled in an approved nonpublic college
or university, a school of Cosmetology, or an out-of-state college or university specifically
designed to accommodate deaf and hard-of-hearing students shall be equal to the weighted
average of the tuition amounts charged to students attending public colleges and universities
during the 2016-2017 academic year.
Present law (R.S. 17:5041 and 5042), with respect to maintaining TOPS eligibility, contains
language that is inconsistent with other provisions of present law and which indicates that TOPS
award amounts are equal to the current tuition charged, and not the tuition charged during the 2016-
2017 academic year.
Proposed law deletes this inconsistent language. Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:5002(A)(2), (B), (D)(1)(b) and (2)(b), 5041(intro para), and 5042(intro para))