2019 Regular Session ENROLLED
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.
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact the heading of Chapter 20-H of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised
3 Statutes of 1950, R.S. 17:3050.1, 3050.2(A), the introductory paragraph of
4 3050.2(B)(1), 3050.3, and 3050.4(D), relative to the Grant Opportunity for Youth
5 ChalleNGe Program; to provide relative to the program's purpose, tuition grants,
6 eligibility, administration, and funding; and to provide for related matters.
7 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. The heading of Chapter 20-H of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes
9 of 1950, R.S. 17:3050.1, 3050.2(A), the introductory paragraph of 3050.2(B)(1), 3050.3, and
10 3050.4(D) are hereby amended 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
18 in a technical program.
19 §3050.2. Tuition grants; eligibility; continuation; limits
20 A.(1) As part of the Grant Opportunity for Youth ChalleNGe Skills Training
21 Program, hereinafter referred to as the "GO-Youth ChalleNGe Program", the state
22 shall award a grant in an amount determined by the administering agency to equal
23 the actual cost of tuition of any student who enrolls on a full-time basis in a
24 Louisiana public postsecondary institution to pursue skill or occupational training,
25 including a vocational technical education certificate or diploma or a nonacademic
ACT No. 402
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1 undergraduate degree a certificate, diploma, or associate or baccalaureate degree
2 required for a high-demand, high-skill, high-wage career.
3 (2) The state shall award a grant in an amount determined by the
4 administering agency to be equal to the average grant amount paid under this Section
5 for students attending a public postsecondary institution to any student who enrolls
6 on a full-time basis at a regionally accredited independent college or university in the
7 state that is a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges or
8 Universities to pursue skill or occupational training, including, a vocational technical
9 education certificate or diploma or a nonacademic undergraduate degree a
10 certificate, diploma, or associate or baccalaureate degree required for a high-
11 demand, high-skill, high-wage career.
12 (3) To be eligible for a grant as provided for in this Section, a student must
13 meet all of the following qualifications and all other applicable qualifications of this
14 Chapter:
15 (a) Is a resident of Louisiana, as defined by the administering agency, during
16 the twenty-four months preceding enrollment in a technical program at an eligible
17 postsecondary institution.
18 (b)(i) Has been certified to have graduated from the Youth ChalleNGe
19 Program and earned a general education diploma high school diploma issued by the
20 State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education or its equivalent, and
21 unless granted an exception for cause by the administering agency, has enrolled in
22 an eligible postsecondary institution not later than the semester, excluding summer
23 semesters or sessions, immediately following the first anniversary of the date that the
24 student graduated from the Louisiana National Guard's Youth ChalleNGe Program,
25 or if the student joins the armed forces of the United States upon graduation has
26 enrolled in an eligible postsecondary institution not later than the semester,
27 excluding summer semesters or sessions, immediately following the fifth anniversary
28 of the date that the student graduated from the Louisiana National Guard's Youth
29 ChalleNGe Program.
30 (ii) Effective for the 2020-2021 award year and thereafter, the
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1 administering agency may, by rule, provide for an earlier or later initial
2 enrollment date.
3 (c) Has no criminal conviction, except for misdemeanor traffic violations and,
4 if the student has been in the armed forces of the United States and has separated
5 from such service, has received an honorable discharge or general discharge under
6 honorable conditions.
7 B.(1) To continue such grant to pursue skill or occupational training, the
8 student shall meet all of the following requirements:
9 * * *
10 §3050.3. Administration
11 The GO-Youth ChalleNGe Program shall be under the administration of the
12 Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission Board of Regents, through the
13 office of student financial assistance, which shall prescribe appropriate adopt rules
14 and regulations applicable thereto in accordance with to implement the provisions
15 of this Chapter.
16 §3050.4. Funding
17 * * *
18 D. Implementation of the Grant Opportunity for GO-Youth ChalleNGe Skills
19 Training Program shall be subject to the availability of funds for this purpose.
20 Section 2. This Act shall become effective on August 1, 2019; if vetoed by the
21 governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become effective on
22 August 1, 2019, or on the day following such approval by the legislature, whichever is later.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
APPROVED:
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