SLS 19RS-423 RE-REENGROSSED
2019 Regular Session
SENATE BILL NO. 203
BY SENATORS WALSWORTH, GATTI AND THOMPSON
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 the introductory paragraph of
4 R.S. 17:3050.2(B)(1), 3050.3, and 3050.4(D), relative to the Grant Opportunity for
5 Youth ChalleNGe Program; to provide relative to the program's purpose, tuition
6 grants, eligibility, administration, and funding; and 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 the introductory paragraph of R.S.
10 17:3050.2(B)(1), 3050.3, and 3050.4(D) are hereby amended and reenacted to read as
11 follows:
12 CHAPTER 20-H. GRANT OPPORTUNI TY FOR YOUTH CHALLENGE
13 SKILL TRAINING PROGRAM
14 §3050.1. Purpose
15 It is the purpose of this Chapter to encourage and assist those students who
16 graduate from the Louisiana National Guard's Youth ChalleNGe Program to continue
17 their education and enhance their skills by providing for tuition at an eligible
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1 Louisiana postsecondary institution to further their skills and occupational training
2 in a technical program.
3 §3050.2. Tuition grants; eligibility; continuation; limits
4 A.(1) As part of the Grant Opportunity for Youth ChalleNGe Skills Training
5 Program, hereinafter referred to as the "GO-Youth ChalleNGe Program", the state
6 shall award a grant in an amount determined by the administering agency to equal
7 the actual cost of tuition of any student who enrolls on a full-time basis in a
8 Louisiana public postsecondary institution to pursue skill or occupational training,
9 including a vocational technical education certificate or diploma or a nonacademic
10 undergraduate degree a certificate, diploma, or associate or baccalaureate
11 undergraduate degree required for a high-demand, high-skill, high-wage career.
12 (2) The state shall award a grant in an amount determined by the
13 administering agency to be equal to the average grant amount paid under this Section
14 for students attending a public postsecondary institution to any student who enrolls
15 on a full-time basis at a regionally accredited independent college or university in the
16 state that is a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges or
17 Universities to pursue skill or occupational training, including, a vocational technical
18 education certificate or diploma or a nonacademic undergraduate degree a
19 certificate, diploma, or associate or baccalaureate undergraduate degree
20 required for a high-demand, high-skill, high-wage career.
21 (3) To be eligible for a grant as provided for in this Section, a student must
22 meet all of the following qualifications and all other applicable qualifications of this
23 Chapter:
24 (a) Is a resident of Louisiana, as defined by the administering agency, during
25 the twenty-four months preceding enrollment in a technical program at an eligible
26 postsecondary institution.
27 (b)(i) Has been certified to have graduated from the Youth ChalleNGe
28 Program and earned a general education diploma high school diploma issued by the
29 State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education or its equivalent, and
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1 unless granted an exception for cause by the administering agency, has enrolled in
2 an eligible postsecondary institution not later than the semester, excluding summer
3 semesters or sessions, immediately following the first anniversary of the date that the
4 student graduated from the Louisiana National Guard's Youth ChalleNGe Program,
5 or if the student joins the armed forces of the United States upon graduation has
6 enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution not later than the semester,
7 excluding summer semesters or sessions, immediately following the fifth anniversary
8 of the date that the student graduated from the Louisiana National Guard's Youth
9 ChalleNGe Program.
10 (ii) Effective for the 2020-2021 award year and thereafter, the
11 administering agency may, by rule, provide for an earlier or later initial
12 enrollment date.
13 (c) Has no criminal conviction, except for misdemeanor traffic violations and,
14 if the student has been in the armed forces of the United States and has separated
15 from such service, has received an honorable discharge or general discharge under
16 honorable conditions.
17 B.(1) To continue such grant to pursue skill or occupational training, the
18 student shall meet all of the following requirements:
19 * * *
20 §3050.3. Administration
21 The GO-Youth ChalleNGe Program shall be under the administration of the
22 Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission Board of Regents, through the
23 office of student financial assistance, which shall prescribe appropriate adopt rules
24 and regulations applicable thereto in accordance with to implement the provisions
25 of this Chapter.
26 * * *
27 §3050.4. Funding
28 * * *
29 D. Implementation of the Grant Opportunity for GO-Youth ChalleNGe Skills
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1 Training Program shall be subject to the availability of funds for this purpose.
2 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on August 1, 2019; if vetoed by the
3 governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on
4 August 1, 2019, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.
The original instrument was prepared by Cheryl M. Serrett. The following
digest, which does not constitute a part of the legislative instrument, was
prepared by Thomas L. Tyler.
DIGEST
SB 203 Re-Reengrossed 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.
Effective August 1, 2019.
(Amends R.S. 17:3050.1, 3050.2(A) and (B)(1)(intro para), 3050.3, and 3050.4(D))
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.
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4. Provide funding for intensive academic advising.
Senate Floor Amendments to engrossed bill
1. Delete the requirement for the legislature to appropriate funding to cover the
costs to provide intensive academic funding to grant recipients.
Senate Floor Amendments to reengrossed bill
1. Make a technical amendment.
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