The original instrument and the following digest, which constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument, were prepared by Jeanne C. Johnston.
DIGEST
SB 318 Original 2020 Regular Session Cathey
Present law provides for Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) as a program of merit
scholarships for students attending certain postsecondary educational institutions who meet specific
initial eligibility requirements pertaining to grade point average (GPA), ACT score, and core
curriculum requirements and certain other qualifications. The initial award eligibility for a TOPS-
Tech Award requires a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5 on the core curriculum and a minimum
ACT score of 17 or attainment of a silver level score on the ACT WorkKeys system of assessments.
Present law further requires the recipient to be a La. resident and a U.S. citizen, and generally
requires the student to enroll in an eligible postsecondary institution within one year of graduating
from high school.
Proposed law provides for alternative initial eligibility requirements for veterans who were
honorably discharged from the United States Armed Forces as follows:
(1)Had at least three years of military service prior to discharge.
(2)Is a citizen of the United States.
(3)Established Louisiana residency within one year after discharge from military service.
(4)Earned a 17 or higher score on the ACT or an equivalent concordant value on the SAT, or
attained a silver level score or higher on the ACT WorkKeys system of assessments.
(5)Enrolls in an eligible college or university within one year after notification of eligibility for
the award.
Present law limits the duration of a student's tuition payment to two years for a TOPS-Tech Award.
Requires that students meet certain requirements during these time frames in order to maintain
continued eligibility. Such requirements include but are not limited to:
(1)Making steady academic progress while earning enough credits to maintain full-time status.
(2)Maintaining a minimum required grade point average, depending on the type of award
received.
(3)Having no criminal conviction, except for misdemeanor traffic violations.
Proposed law retains present law and additionally requires any student who fails to meet the
requirements for maintaining eligibility or fails to complete his academic degree or skill or occupational training within the time frames specified in present law to repay all award amounts paid
to a postsecondary education on his behalf.
Proposed law requires the administering agency (the Board of Regents) to promulgate rules
necessary to implement proposed law, including provisions for the following:
(1)Collecting amounts owed and interest on unpaid amounts.
(2)Circumstances under which a student shall be excepted from the proposed law repayment
requirements. Requires that these rules provide for the definition, certification requirements,
and maximum duration of these circumstances, which shall be limited to permanent
disability and military service.
Effective upon signature of the governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:5029(E))