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2018 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 452
BY SENATORS MORRISH, APPEL, BOUDREAUX, MIZELL AND WALSWORTH
TOPS. Changes certain TOPS initial eligibility requirements and provides relative to the
sharing of certain student data. (gov sig)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:183.3(B)(2)(c), 5025(3)(c), the introductory paragraph of
3 5026(A) and (A)(3)(b), 5061, the introductory paragraph of 5062(C), (C)(1), and
4 (C)(4), R.S. 39:98.3(D), and R.S. 47:1508(B)(17), relative to the Taylor Opportunity
5 Program for Students; to provide relative to eligibility requirements; to provide
6 relative to Board of Regents' reporting requirements; to provide relative to sharing
7 of certain taxpayer data to the administering agency; to provide for technical
8 changes; and to provide for related matters.
9 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 17:183.3(B)(2)(c), 5025(3)(c), the introductory paragraph of 5026(A)
11 and (A)(3)(b), 5061, the introductory paragraph of 5062(C), (C)(1), and (C)(4) are hereby
12 amended and reenacted are hereby enacted to read as follows:
13 §183.3. Career major; description; curriculum and graduation requirements
14 * * *
15 B.(1) * * *
16 (2) The course requirements for the career major shall consist of the
17 following:
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1 * * *
2 (c) At least two science credits, including one credit of Biology and one
3 additional course from among the following: Chemistry I, Earth Science,
4 Environmental Science, Physical Science, Agriscience I and Agriscience II (one
5 credit combined), Physics, or AP or IB Science courses.
6 * * *
7 §5025. High school core curriculum requirements; Opportunity, Performance,
8 Honors Awards
9 To be eligible for an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors Award pursuant
10 to this Chapter, a student who graduates during or after the 2017-2018 school year
11 shall have successfully completed a core curriculum which consists of nineteen units
12 of high school course work as follows:
13 * * *
14 (3) Science - Four Units
15 * * *
16 (c) Two units chosen from the following: Earth Science; Environmental
17 Science; Physical Science; Agriscience I and Agriscience II (one unit combined);
18 Chemistry II, AP Chemistry, or IB Chemistry II; AP Environmental Science, or IB
19 Environmental Systems; Physics I, AP Physics I, AP Physics B, or IB Physics I; AP
20 Physics C: Electricity and Magnetism, AP Physics C: Mechanics, or IB Physics II;
21 AP Physics I and, or AP Physics II; Biology II, AP Biology, or IB Biology II.
22 * * *
23 §5026. High school core curriculum requirements; TOPS-Tech
24 A. Except as otherwise provided by this Section, to To be eligible for a
25 TOPS-Tech Award pursuant to this Chapter, the student shall have successfully
26 completed the core curriculum requirements of R.S. 17:5025 or 5025.3 or the core
27 curriculum defined as follows:
28 * * *
29 (3) Science - Two Units
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1 (a) * * *
2 (b) One unit from the following: Chemistry I, Earth Science, Environmental
3 Science, Agriscience I and Agriscience II (both for one unit), Physical Science,
4 Physics, or AP or IB science courses.
5 * * *
6 §5061. Administering agency
7 The provisions of this Chapter shall be administered by the Board of Regents.
8 The administering agency may shall provide by rule adopted as provided by the
9 Administrative Procedure Act for all matters necessary to the implementation of this
10 Chapter.
11 §5062. Rules, procedures, and guidelines
12 * * *
13 C. The administering agency shall provide the following guidelines:
14 (1) Guidelines and procedures by which the administering agency, subject to
15 prior approval by in consultation with the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
16 Education, may update the course name and establish course equivalencies for any
17 course included in the definition of core curriculum provided by this Chapter,
18 including necessary changes to course names and equivalencies for Advanced
19 Placement and International Baccalaureate courses as prescribed by the College
20 Board or the International Baccalaureate Foundation. The guidelines and procedures
21 shall include but not be limited to a requirement that any change in a course name
22 and the establishment of any course equivalency be done by rule adopted by the
23 administering agency and a requirement that prior to issuing a notice of intent to
24 consider any such rule the administering agency shall consult with and seek the
25 written comments and recommendations of the Board of Regents on making the
26 name change or establishing the course equivalency.
27 * * *
28 (4)(a) Guidelines and procedures permitting the administering agency
29 to receive and consider, beginning with awards made for the 2018-2019
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1 academic year and thereafter, an applicant's qualifying score on the ACT or on
2 the SAT which is first obtained on an authorized testing date after the national
3 April ACT testing date in the year of the applicant's high school graduation but
4 prior to August first of the year of such graduation or, if the administering
5 authority determines that the applicant was prevented from taking the test
6 prior to August first of the year of graduation due to circumstances beyond the
7 immediate control of the student and attributable to the administration of the
8 test, prior to September thirtieth of the year of such graduation.
9 (b) Guidelines and procedures permitting the administering agency to receive
10 and consider, beginning with awards made for the 2000-2001 academic year and
11 through the 2002-2003 academic year, an applicant's qualifying score on the ACT
12 or on the SAT that is obtained on an authorized testing date after the date of the
13 applicant's high school graduation but prior to July first of the year of such
14 graduation.
15 (b)(c) Guidelines and procedures permitting the administering agency to
16 receive and consider, beginning with awards made for the 2003-2004 academic year
17 and thereafter, an applicant's qualifying score on the ACT or on the SAT which is
18 first obtained on an authorized testing date after the national April ACT testing date
19 in the year of the applicant's high school graduation but prior to July first of the year
20 of such graduation.
21 (c)(d) Guidelines and procedures permitting the administering agency to
22 receive and consider, beginning with awards made for the 2011-2012 academic year
23 and thereafter, an applicant's qualifying score on the ACT or on the SAT which is
24 first obtained on an authorized testing date after the national April ACT testing date
25 in the year of the applicant's high school graduation but prior to July first of the year
26 of such graduation or, if the administering authority determines that the applicant
27 was prevented from taking the test prior to July first of the year of graduation due to
28 circumstances beyond the immediate control of the student and attributable to the
29 administration of the test, prior to September thirtieth of the year of such graduation.
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1 (d)(e) When granting an award to an applicant whose qualifying test score is
2 considered by the agency pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph, the agency
3 shall reduce the time period of eligibility for the award as set forth in R.S. 17:5002
4 by one semester or an equivalent number of units at an eligible institution which
5 operates on a schedule based on units other than semesters.
6 * * *
7 Section 2. R.S. 39:98.3(D) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
8 §98.3. Appropriations from the Health Excellence Fund, the Education Excellence
9 Fund, and the TOPS Fund
10 * * *
11 D. Appropriations from the TOPS Fund shall be restricted to support of the
12 state's program for financial assistance for students attending Louisiana institutions
13 of postsecondary education as established in Chapter 20-G50 of Title 17 of the
14 Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950.
15 * * *
16 Section 3. R.S. 47:1508(B)(17) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
17 §1508. Confidentiality of tax records
18 * * *
19 B. Nothing herein contained shall be construed to prevent:
20 * * *
21 (17) The furnishing of a taxpayer's reported federal adjusted gross income as
22 requested by the office of student financial assistance when based on certification by
23 the office that the confidentiality of such information will be respected and that it
24 holds an agreement signed by the taxpayer authorizing the release of this information
25 for the purpose of considering the eligibility of the taxpayer's beneficiary for a tuition
26 assistance grant under the Louisiana Student Tuition Assistance and Revenue Trust
27 Program as provided for by Chapter 22-A of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised
28 Statutes of 1950 or, for the purpose of considering the eligibility of the taxpayer's
29 dependent child for an award under the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for
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1 Students as provided for by Chapter 20-G 50 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised
2 Statutes of 1950, or for the purpose of determining employment and residency
3 status of past recipients of the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for
4 Students awards.
5 * * *
6 Section 4. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
7 signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
8 by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
9 vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
10 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 452 Engrossed 2018 Regular Session Morrish
Present law provides for high school career major curriculum and graduation requirements.
Proposed law retains present law. Additionally provides that Physics may be counted for
credit as a science course to satisfy the high school career major graduation requirements.
Present law provides for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), including
providing for award amounts, initial eligibility requirements, and continuation requirements.
Present law provides for the administration of TOPS.
Present law provides two separate core curriculum requirements, based on the type of award
the student is seeking. Proposed law retains present law but allows AP Physics I and AP
Physics II to count as individual classes in the TOPS Opportunity, Performance, and Honors
students core curriculum. Additionally provides Physics may count in the TOPS-Tech core
curriculum.
Proposed law clarifies that the administering agency shall adopt rules as provided by the
Administrative Procedure Act.
Present law provides that course equivalences shall be set by the administering agency upon
prior approval by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Proposed law amends present law to provide that BESE is consulted with on the changes but
is not required to approve the changes.
Present law provides that ACT and SAT tests taken after July 1 of the student's high school
graduation year may not be considered when determining eligibility. Proposed law allows
tests taken during July to be considered for eligibility but with penalty.
Present law provides that tax records are confidential. Present law additionally provides that
certain taxpayers' information may be shared with the office of student financial assistance
to help determine the students' eligibility for TOPS.
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Proposed law retains present law. Further provides the tax information may also be used by
the office to determine past TOPS recipient employment and residency status in Louisiana.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:183.3(B)(2)(c), 5025(3)(c), 5026(A)(intro para) and (A)(3)(b), 5061,
5062(C)(intro para), (C)(1), and (C)(4), R.S. 39:98.3(D), and R.S. 47:1508(B)(17))
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