2017 Regular Session ENROLLED
SENATE BILL NO. 71
BY SENATOR DONAHUE
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:5002(A)(2), (B), (D)(1)(b) and (2)(b), the introductory
3 paragraph of 5041, and the introductory paragraph of 5042, relative to the Taylor
4 Opportunity Program for Students; to provide relative to the amounts of program
5 awards; and to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:5002(A)(2), (B), (D)(1)(b) and (2)(b), the introductory paragraph
8 of 5041, and the introductory paragraph of 5042 are hereby amended and reenacted to read
9 as follows:
10 §5002. Awards and amounts
11 A. * * *
12 (2) The award amount shall be as provided for in Subsection B or D of this
13 Section to a student enrolled in any given institution shall be equal to the award
14 amount paid for a student at that institution during the 2016-2017 academic year
15 unless the legislature, by law, increases the award amount.
16 B. Any student who is eligible for an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors
17 Award pursuant to this Chapter and who has enrolled:
18 (1) In any public college or university in this state, shall be awarded by the
19 state an amount determined by the administering agency to equal the tuition charged
20 by the public college or university during the 2016-2017 academic year.
21 (2) At any regionally accredited independent college or university in the state
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1 which is a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and
2 Universities to pursue an academic undergraduate degree, shall be awarded by the
3 state an amount to be determined by the administering agency to equal the weighted
4 average of amounts paid under this Section to the tuition amounts charged to
5 students attending public colleges and universities that offer academic undergraduate
6 degrees at the baccalaureate level during the 2016-2017 academic year.
7 (3) In a school that has a valid and current certificate of registration issued
8 by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology in accordance with law and that is
9 accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States
10 Department of Education or in any proprietary school that has a valid and current
11 license issued by the Board of Regents in accordance with law and that is accredited
12 by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of
13 Education, shall be awarded by the state an amount determined by the administering
14 agency to equal the weighted average of amounts paid under this Section for the
15 tuition amounts charged to students attending public colleges and universities
16 during the 2016-2017 academic year and who are enrolled in the permitted skill or
17 occupational training, as may be applicable.
18 (4) In an out-of-state college or university that is specifically designed to
19 accommodate deaf and hard-of-hearing students under R.S. 17:5027(C), shall be
20 awarded an amount determined by the administering agency to equal the weighted
21 average of amounts paid under this Section for the tuition amounts charged to
22 students attending Louisiana public colleges and universities that offer academic
23 undergraduate degrees during the 2016-2017 academic year.
24 * * *
25 D.(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection, a student who is
26 eligible for a TOPS-Tech Award pursuant to this Chapter and who is enrolled:
27 * * *
28 (b) In an eligible college or university other than as provided for in
29 Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph in those associate's degree or other shorter-term
30 training education programs that are aligned to state workforce priorities as
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1 determined by the Board of Regents and the Louisiana Workforce Investment
2 Council shall be awarded by the state an amount determined by the administering
3 agency to equal the weighted average of amounts paid the tuition amounts charged
4 to students attending an eligible public college or university that does not offer an
5 academic undergraduate degree at the baccalaureate level during the 2016-2017
6 academic year. If the Board of Regents and the Louisiana Workforce Investment
7 Council determine that a program is no longer aligned with those priorities, an
8 otherwise eligible student who had previously received an award and enrolled in that
9 program may continue to use the award.
10 (2) A student who graduated prior to the 2016-2017 school year, who is
11 eligible for a TOPS-Tech Award pursuant to this Chapter, and who is enrolled:
12 * * *
13 (b) In an eligible college or university other than as provided for in
14 Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph shall be awarded by the state an amount
15 determined by the administering agency to equal the weighted average of amounts
16 paid the tuition amounts charged to students attending an eligible public college
17 or university that does not offer an academic undergraduate degree at the
18 baccalaureate level during the 2016-2017 academic year.
19 * * *
20 §5041. Maintaining eligibility; Honors, Performance, Opportunity
21 To maintain continued state payment of an amount equal to tuition and other
22 amounts for any amount pursuant to an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors
23 Award pursuant to this Chapter once enrolled in college a student shall meet all of
24 the following:
25 * * *
26 §5042. Maintaining eligibility; TOPS-Tech
27 To maintain continued state payment of an any amount equal to tuition
28 pursuant to a TOPS-Tech Award once enrolled in an institution, a student shall meet
29 all of the following:
30 * * *
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1 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
2 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
3 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
4 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
5 effective on the day following such approval.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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