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 870 Original 2020 Regular Session Garofalo
Abstract: Modifies TOPS eligibility provisions in response to the public health emergency caused
by the COVID-19.
Proposed law makes the following modifications to initial eligibility requirements for a Taylor
Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) award:
(1)The deadline for taking the ACT or SAT test is Sept. 30, 2020. (The deadline is normally
April as provided by rule.)
Present law provides that a student loses a semester of eligibility if he is late qualifying.
Proposed law provides that present law shall not be applied to a student who qualifies under
the extended deadline.
(2)Provides that if any Jump Start graduation requirement was waived by a high school for
graduation purposes, the requirement shall also be waived for TOPS-Tech eligibility
purposes.
(3)Authorizes the administering agency to waive the home study requirements of present law
if it determines that the student's failure to meet those requirements was, more likely than
not, due solely to consequences of measures taken to limit the spread of COVID-19.
Proposed law makes the following modifications to continuing eligibility requirements for a TOPS
award with respect to the 2019-2020 academic year:
(1)Waives requirements for steady academic progress.
(2)Waives requirements for the achievement of certain cumulative grade point averages.
(3)Extends the time a student has to recover an award that was suspended because of a low
grade point average or failure to make steady academic progress.
(4)Authorizes the administering agency to waive other provisions of present law if the agency
determines that a failure to comply with the provision is, more likely than not, due solely to
a consequence of measures taken to limit the spread of COVID-19.
(Adds R.S. 17:5103)