HLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 167
BY REPRESENTATIVES COX, ADAMS, BACALA, BAGLEY, BEAULLIEU, BOYD,
CARRIER, ROBBY CARTER, WILFORD CARTER, CORMIER, DEVILLIER,
EDMONSTON, EMERSON, FIRMENT, FISHER, HODGES, HUGHES, JENKINS,
MIKE JOHNSON, JORDAN, KNOX, LAFLEUR, LANDRY, LARVADAIN,
LYONS, MARCELLE, MOORE, CHARLES OWEN, ROMERO, SELDERS,
THOMPSON, TURNER, WHITE, AND WILLARD
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; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. R.S. 17:1688 and 5002(H) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
9 §1688. Disabled veterans; tuition and fee exemption
10 A.(1) A disabled veteran who has enrolled in a program of education
11 approved for educational assistance under 38 U.S.C. 3313 at a public postsecondary
12 education institution and who does not qualify for the one hundred percent eligibility
13 tier shall receive an exemption in an amount equal to the remaining tuition and fees
14 owed to the institution attended after the application of federal benefits under
15 38 U.S.C. 3313.
16 (2) For purposes of this Section, "disabled veteran" means an individual who
17 has a service-connected disability as determined by the United States Department of
18 Veterans Affairs and who is a resident of Louisiana.
19 B. In order to be eligible for the exemption, the student shall maintain full-
20 time enrollment and meet the academic standards and comply with the rules and
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-261 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 167
1 regulations of the institution for enrollment and continued attendance. A student
2 shall be eligible for the exemption for up to ten semesters or an equivalent number
3 of units in an eligible institution which operates on a schedule based on units other
4 than semesters.
5 * * *
6 §5002. Awards and amounts
7 * * *
8 H. In lieu of the payment of tuition as provided in this Section, any student
9 participating in the program provided by R.S. 17:1688 for disabled veterans shall
10 receive the tuition exemption provided in that Section.
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 Reengrossed 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.
Proposed law provides that if a student qualifies for both the proposed law tuition waiver and
a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarship award, he shall receive the
tuition exemption provided by proposed law rather than through TOPS.
(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%.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Remove additional payments for students who qualify for TOPS in addition to
the proposed law tuition waiver.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.