HLS 23RS-261 ENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 167
BY REPRESENTATIVES COX AND BEAULLIEU
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
STUDENT/TUITION: Provides for a tuition waiver for certain disabled veterans
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 17:1688 and 5002(H), relative to tuition and fees at public postsecondary
3 education institutions; to provide for a tuition and fee waiver for certain disabled
4 veterans; to provide for the waiver amount to be calculated after the application of
5 federal benefits; to provide criteria for continuing eligibility and for the maximum
6 duration of the waiver; to provide for certain payments for disabled veterans who
7 also qualify for a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students award; and to provide for
8 related matters.
9Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
10 Section 1. R.S. 17:1688 and 5002(H) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
11 §1688. Disabled veterans; tuition and fee exemption
12 A.(1) A disabled veteran who has enrolled in a program of education
13 approved for educational assistance under 38 U.S.C. 3313 at a public postsecondary
14 education institution and who does not qualify for the one hundred percent eligibility
15 tier shall receive an exemption in an amount equal to the remaining tuition and fees
16 owed to the institution attended after the application of federal benefits under
17 38 U.S.C. 3313.
18 (2) For purposes of this Section, "disabled veteran" means an individual who
19 has a service-connected disability as determined by the United States Department of
20 Veterans Affairs and who is a resident of Louisiana.
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HB NO. 167
1 B. In order to be eligible for the exemption, the student shall maintain full-
2 time enrollment and meet the academic standards and comply with the rules and
3 regulations of the institution for enrollment and continued attendance. A student
4 shall be eligible for the exemption for up to ten semesters or an equivalent number
5 of units in an eligible institution which operates on a schedule based on units other
6 than semesters.
7 * * *
8 §5002. Awards and amounts
9 * * *
10 H. In lieu of the payment of tuition as provided in this Section, any student
11 participating in the program provided by R.S. 17:1688 for disabled veterans shall
12 receive the tuition exemption provided in that Section. In addition to any other
13 payments provided for by the provisions of R.S. 17:1688:
14 (1) For any student who also meets the qualifications provided in this
15 Section for receipt of an Opportunity Award or a TOPS-Tech Award, the state shall
16 pay on behalf of such student a sum of three hundred dollars per semester or six
17 hundred dollars per academic year to be applied toward the cost of books and other
18 instructional materials.
19 (2) For any student who also meets the qualifications provided in this
20 Section for receipt of a Performance Award, the state shall pay on behalf of the
21 student a sum of three hundred dollars per semester or six hundred dollars per
22 academic year to be applied toward the cost of books and other instructional
23 materials plus the sum of four hundred dollars per semester or eight hundred dollars
24 per academic year for other educational expenses as defined by the administering
25 agency.
26 (3) For any student who also meets the qualifications provided in this
27 Section for receipt of an Honors Award, the state shall pay on behalf of the student
28 a sum of three hundred dollars per semester or six hundred dollars per academic year
29 to be applied toward the cost of books and other instructional materials plus the sum
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HB NO. 167
1 of eight hundred dollars per semester or one thousand six hundred dollars per
2 academic year for other educational expenses as defined by the administering
3 agency.
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 167 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Cox
Abstract: Provides for a tuition and fee waiver for disabled veterans.
Proposed law provides that a disabled veteran who does not qualify for the 100% eligibility
tier under federal law relative to postsecondary education benefits shall receive an exemption
in an amount equal to the remaining tuition and fees owed to the public postsecondary
education institution attended after the application of federal benefits. Defines "disabled
veteran" as an individual who has a service-connected disability as determined by the U.S.
Dept. of Veterans Affairs and who is a resident of La.
Present law provides for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), a program
of merit scholarships awarded to students attending certain postsecondary education
institutions who meet certain academic and other qualifications. Provides that the award
amount for a given institution is equal to the amount of the tuition charged by that institution
during the 2016-17 academic year. Proposed law retains present law.
Present law provides for a tuition waiver program for certain individuals serving in the La.
National Guard. Provides that in lieu of the tuition payment provided by TOPS, such an
individual receives his tuition exemption through the National Guard program but also
receives stipends through TOPS for books and other educational expenses, the amount of
which is dependent on the TOPS award level for which he qualifies. Proposed law also
applies these parameters to the disabled veterans receiving the proposed law tuition waiver.
(Adds R.S. 17:1688 and 5002(H))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the
original bill:
1. Apply proposed law to all veterans with a service-related disability rather than
only those with a disability classification of 100%.
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