RÉSUMÉ DIGEST
ACT 671 (SB 452) 2018 Regular Session Morrish
Prior law provided for high school career major curriculum and graduation requirements.
New law retains prior law. Additionally provides that Physics may be counted for credit as
a science course to satisfy the high school career major graduation requirements.
Prior law provided for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), including
providing for award amounts, initial eligibility requirements, and continuation requirements.
Prior law provided for the administration of TOPS.
Prior law provided two separate core curriculum requirements, based on the type of award
the student is seeking. New law retains prior 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.
New law clarifies that the administering agency shall adopt rules as provided by the
Administrative Procedure Act.
Prior law provided that course equivalences shall be set by the administering agency upon
prior approval by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
New law amends prior law to provide that BESE is consulted with on the changes but is not
required to approve the changes.
Prior law provided that ACT and SAT tests taken after July first of the student's high school
graduation year may not be considered when determining eligibility. New law allows tests
taken after the national April testing date in the year of the applicant's high school graduation
provided that:
(1) The administering agency determines that the applicant was prevented from taking
the test on or prior to the April testing date of the year of the applicant's graduation
due to circumstances beyond the immediate control of the student which were
attributable to the administration of the test.
(2) The applicant's qualifying score is obtained on an authorized testing date prior to
August first of the year of the applicant's graduation.
Prior law provided that when granting an award to an applicant whose qualifying test score
is considered by the agency pursuant to prior law, the agency shall reduce the time period of
eligibility for the award by one semester or an equivalent number of units at an eligible
institution which operates on a schedule based on units other than semesters. New law
provides that when granting an award to an applicant pursuant to new law, the agency shall
not reduce the time period of eligibility.
Prior law provided that tax records are confidential. Prior law additionally provided that
certain taxpayers' information may be shared with the office of student financial assistance
to help determine the students' eligibility for TOPS.
New law retains prior 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 (June 1, 2018).
(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) and (C)(1), R.S. 39:98.3(D), and R.S. 47:1508(B)(17); adds R.S.
17:5062(C)(5))