HLS 20RS-1255 ORIGINAL
2020 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 786
BY REPRESENTATIVE GAROFALO
TOPS: Provides relative to qualifications for Taylor Opportunity Program for Students
scholarships
1 AN ACT
2To amend and reenact R.S. 17:5062(C)(4)(d) and to enact R.S. 17:5062(C)(4)(e), relative
3 to Taylor Opportunity Program for Students; to provide for late submission of ACT
4 and SAT scores for students graduating from high school in 2020; and to provide for
5 related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:5062(C)(4)(d) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
817:5062(C)(4)(e) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 ยง5062. Rules, procedures, and guidelines
10 * * *
11 C. The administering agency shall provide the following:
12 * * *
13 (4)
14 * * *
15 (d) When Except as provided in Subparagraph (e) of this Paragraph, when
16 granting an award to an applicant whose qualifying test score is considered by the
17 agency pursuant to the provisions of this Paragraph, the agency shall reduce the time
18 period of eligibility for the award as set forth in R.S. 17:5002 by one semester or an
19 equivalent number of units at an eligible institution which operates on a schedule
20 based on units other than semesters.
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HB NO. 786
1 (e) Guidelines and procedures for receipt and consideration, for the 2020-
2 2021 academic year or any part thereof, of an applicant's ACT or SAT score that is
3 obtained after April 2020. The agency may grant an award for the 2020-2021
4 academic year to an applicant who obtained a qualifying ACT or SAT score after
5 April 2020 only if all of the following conditions are met: the applicant graduated
6 from high school in 2020, the applicant was not qualified for any award prior to
7 April 2020, and the applicant obtained a qualifying test score on the first testing date
8 for the test he took held in Louisiana after April 2020. The agency shall not reduce
9 the time period of eligibility for the award, as set forth in R.S. 17:5002, of an
10 applicant who qualifies for an award pursuant to authority granted by this
11 Subparagraph.
12 * * *
13 Section 2. It is the intent of the Legislature of Louisiana in enacting R.S.
1417:5062(C)(4)(e) as provided in this Act that students graduating from high school in 2020
15should not suffer any detrimental effects to their eligibility for a Taylor Opportunity Program
16for Students scholarship solely because of the cancellation or rescheduling of test dates in
172020. The Board of Regents shall implement R.S. 17:5062(C)(4)(e) to achieve this intent.
18 Section 3. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
19signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
20by the governor, as provided in Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
21vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
22effective on the day following such approval.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 786 Original 2020 Regular Session Garofalo
Abstract: Extends the deadline for submission of ACT or SAT scores in order to qualify
for a TOPS scholarship for students graduating from high school in 2020.
Present law provides for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) as a program
of merit scholarships for students attending certain postsecondary education institutions who
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HB NO. 786
meet specific academic requirements and other qualifications. Provides for administration
of the program by the Bd. of Regents (board). Academic qualifications for TOPS
scholarships include minimum ACT or SAT test scores.
Present law requires the board to adopt guidelines for receipt and consideration of late ACT
and SAT scores for various specific time periods. Requires the board to reduce by one the
number of semesters an applicant who qualifies with a late score pursuant to present law is
eligible for the scholarship.
Proposed law requires the board to adopt guidelines for receipt and consideration, for the
2020-2021 academic year or any part thereof, of an applicant's ACT or SAT score that is
obtained after April 2020. Authorizes the board to grant a scholarship based on such late-
submitted scores only if the applicant meets all of the following:
(1)The applicant graduated from high school in 2020.
(2)The applicant was not qualified for any award prior to April 2020.
(3)The applicant obtained the qualifying test score on the first testing date held in La.
after April 2020.
Proposed law provides that the number of semesters of eligibility for a TOPS scholarship
shall not be reduced for an applicant who qualifies for a scholarship pursuant to proposed
law.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Amends R.S. 17:5062(C)(4)(d); Adds R.S. 17:5062(C)(4)(e))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
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