SLS 19RS-423 ORIGINAL
2019 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 203
BY SENATOR WALSWORTH
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
POSTSECONDARY ED. Provides with respect to student financial assistance. (8/1/19)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:3050.2(A)(3)(b), 3050.3, and 5027(A)(1) relative to student
3 financial assistance; to provide relative to eligibility for Youth ChalleNGe Skills
4 Training Program tuition grants; to provide relative to TOPS-Tech eligibility; and
5 to provide for related matters.
6 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:3050.2(A)(3)(b), 3050.3, and 5027(A)(1) are hereby amended and
8 reenacted to read as follows:
9 §3050.2. Tuition grants; eligibility; continuation; limits
10 A. * * *
11 (3) * * *
12 (b)(i) Has been certified to have graduated from the Youth ChalleNGe
13 Program and earned a general education diploma high school diploma issued by the
14 State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education or its equivalent, and
15 unless granted an exception for cause by the administering agency, has enrolled in
16 an eligible postsecondary institution not later than the semester, excluding summer
17 semesters or sessions, immediately following the first anniversary of the date that the
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 203
SLS 19RS-423 ORIGINAL
1 student graduated from the Louisiana National Guard's Youth ChalleNGe Program,
2 or if the student joins the armed forces of the United States upon graduation has
3 enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution not later than the semester,
4 excluding summer semesters or sessions, immediately following the fifth anniversary
5 of the date that the student graduated from the Louisiana National Guard's Youth
6 ChalleNGe Program.
7 (ii) Effective for the 2020-2021 award year and thereafter, the
8 administering agency may, by rule, provide for an earlier or later initial
9 enrollment date.
10 * * *
11 §3050.3. Administration
12 The GO-Youth ChalleNGe Program shall be under the administration of the
13 Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission Board of Regents, through the
14 office of student financial assistance, which shall prescribe appropriate adopt rules
15 and regulations applicable thereto in accordance with to implement the provisions
16 of this Chapter.
17 * * *
18 §5027. Postsecondary institution enrollment
19 A.(1)(a) Except as otherwise provided by this Section, to be eligible for an
20 award pursuant to this Chapter, the student shall enroll in an eligible college or
21 university as a first-time freshman not later than the semester, excluding summer
22 semesters or sessions, immediately following the first anniversary of the date that the
23 student graduated from high school.
24 (b) Effective for the 2020-2021 award year and thereafter, for purposes
25 of eligibility for a TOPS-Tech Award, the administering agency may, by rule,
26 provide for an earlier or later initial enrollment date.
27 * * *
28 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on August 1, 2019; if vetoed by the
29 governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions. SB NO. 203
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1 August 1, 2019, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.
The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument, were prepared by Cheryl Serrett.
DIGEST
SB 203 Original 2019 Regular Session Walsworth
Present law provides for the Grant Opportunity for Youth ChalleNGe Skills Training
Program (GO-Youth ChalleNGe) for students who graduate from the La. National Guard's
Youth ChalleNGe Program with a general education diploma.
Proposed law extends eligibility to GO-Youth ChalleNGe students who graduate from the
La. National Guard's Youth ChalleNGe Program with a BESE-issued diploma.
Present law requires a student to meet certain other eligibility requirements, including
enrolling in an eligible postsecondary institution not later than the semester, excluding
summer semesters or sessions, immediately following the first anniversary of the date the
student graduated from the La. National Guard's Youth ChalleNGe Program.
Proposed law provides that, effective the 2020-2021 award year and thereafter, the
administering agency may, by rule, provide for an earlier or later initial enrollment date.
Present law provides for the program to be administered by the La. Student Financial
Assistance Commission, and authorizes the commission to prescribe appropriate rules and
regulations for the program.
Proposed law clarifies that the administering agency is the Board of Regents, through the
office of student financial assistance.
Present law provides for the TOPS-Tech award for students who meet certain curriculum,
ACT score, and GPA criteria.
Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides that to be eligible to receive a TOPS-Tech award a student must enroll
in an eligible postsecondary institution not later than the semester, excluding summer
semesters or sessions, immediately following the first anniversary of the date the student
graduated from high school.
Proposed law retains present law but provides that, effective the 2020-2021 award year and
thereafter, the administering agency may, by rule, provide for an earlier or later initial
enrollment date.
Effective August 1, 2019.
(Amends R.S. 17:3050.2(A)(3)(b), 3050.3 and 5027(A)(1))
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Coding: Words which are struck through are deletions from existing law;
words in boldface type and underscored are additions.