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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 the Grant Opportunity for Youth
ChalleNGe Program. (8/1/19)
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact the Title of Chapter 20-H of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised
3 Statutes of 1950 and R.S. 17:3050.1, 3050.2(A) and (B)(1), 3050.3, and 3050.4,
4 relative to the Grant Opportunity for Youth ChalleNGe Program; to provide relative
5 to the program's purpose, tuition grants, eligibility, administration, and funding; and
6 to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. The Title of Chapter 20-H of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes
9 of 1950 and R.S. 17:3050.1, 3050.2(A) and (B)(1), 3050.3, and 3050.4 are hereby amended
10 and reenacted to read as follows:
11 CHAPTER 20-H. GRANT OPPORTUNI TY FOR YOUTH CHALLENGE
12 SKILL TRAINING PROGRAM
13 §3050.1. Purpose
14 It is the purpose of this Chapter to encourage and assist those students who
15 graduate from the Louisiana National Guard's Youth ChalleNGe Program to continue
16 their education and enhance their skills by providing for tuition at an eligible
17 Louisiana postsecondary institution to further their skills and occupational training
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1 in a technical program.
2 §3050.2. Tuition grants; eligibility; continuation; limits
3 A.(1) As part of the Grant Opportunity for Youth ChalleNGe Skills Training
4 Program, hereinafter referred to as the "GO-Youth ChalleNGe Program", the state
5 shall award a grant in an amount determined by the administering agency to equal
6 the actual cost of tuition of any student who enrolls on a full-time basis in a
7 Louisiana public postsecondary institution to pursue skill or occupational training,
8 including a vocational technical education certificate or diploma or a nonacademic
9 undergraduate degree a certificate, diploma, or associate or baccalaureate
10 undergraduate degree required for a high-demand, high-skill, high-wage career.
11 (2) The state shall award a grant in an amount determined by the
12 administering agency to be equal to the average grant amount paid under this Section
13 for students attending a public postsecondary institution to any student who enrolls
14 on a full-time basis at a regionally accredited independent college or university in the
15 state that is a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges or
16 Universities to pursue skill or occupational training, including, a vocational technical
17 education certificate or diploma or a nonacademic undergraduate degree a
18 certificate, diploma, or associate or baccalaureate undergraduate degree
19 required for a high-demand, high-skill, high-wage career.
20 (3) To be eligible for a grant as provided for in this Section, a student must
21 meet all of the following qualifications and all other applicable qualifications of this
22 Chapter:
23 (a) Is a resident of Louisiana, as defined by the administering agency, during
24 the twenty-four months preceding enrollment in a technical program at an eligible
25 postsecondary institution.
26 (b)(i) Has been certified to have graduated from the Youth ChalleNGe
27 Program and earned a general education diploma high school diploma issued by the
28 State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education or its equivalent, and
29 unless granted an exception for cause by the administering agency, has enrolled in
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1 an eligible postsecondary institution not later than the semester, excluding summer
2 semesters or sessions, immediately following the first anniversary of the date that the
3 student graduated from the Louisiana National Guard's Youth ChalleNGe Program,
4 or if the student joins the armed forces of the United States upon graduation has
5 enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution not later than the semester,
6 excluding summer semesters or sessions, immediately following the fifth anniversary
7 of the date that the student graduated from the Louisiana National Guard's Youth
8 ChalleNGe Program.
9 (ii) Effective for the 2020-2021 award year and thereafter, the
10 administering agency may, by rule, provide for an earlier or later initial
11 enrollment date.
12 * * *
13 B.(1) To continue such grant to pursue skill or occupational training, the
14 student shall meet all of the following requirements:
15 * * *
16 §3050.3. Administration
17 The GO-Youth ChalleNGe Program shall be under the administration of the
18 Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission Board of Regents, through the
19 office of student financial assistance, which shall prescribe appropriate adopt rules
20 and regulations applicable thereto in accordance with to implement the provisions
21 of this Chapter.
22 * * *
23 §3050.4. Funding
24 A. The legislature annually shall appropriate to the administering agency
25 funds which, together with any other funds available, are sufficient to cover the
26 grants awarded by the state pursuant to this Chapter, the costs for intensive
27 academic advising by the office of student financial assistance, and the cost of
28 administering the program.
29 B. All tuition grants shall be paid by the administering agency directly to the
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1 institution to which such tuition is due after notice to the institution that the state
2 shall pay, on behalf of the qualifying student, the applicable amount stipulated in this
3 Chapter, and after notice from the institution, that the student has actually enrolled.
4 C. The administering agency may seek, accept, and expend funds from any
5 source, including private business, industry, foundations, and other groups as well
6 as any federal or other governmental funding available for this purpose.
7 D. Implementation of the Grant Opportunity for GO-Youth ChalleNGe Skills
8 Training Program shall be subject to the availability of funds for this purpose.
9 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on August 1, 2019; if vetoed by the
10 governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on
11 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 Engrossed 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 to receive a grant for
postsecondary education skills training.
Proposed law extends eligibility to GO-Youth ChalleNGe students who graduate from the
La. National Guard's Youth ChalleNGe Program and earned a BESE-issued diploma or its
equivalent. Expands postsecondary education options for these students to include a
certificate, diploma, or associate or baccalaureate degree required for a high-demand, high-
skill, high-wage career.
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 legislature to appropriate funding to cover the grants awarded
and the costs for administering the program.
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Proposed law retains present law and includes the costs to provide intensive academic
funding to grant recipients.
Effective August 1, 2019.
(Amends R.S. 17:3050.1, 3050.2(A) and (B)(1), 3050.3, and 3050.4)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the
original bill
1. Remove provisions relative to TOPS-Tech.
2. Rename grant program.
3. Expand use of grant program for additional postsecondary education options.
3. Provide funding for intensive academic advising.
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