HLS 23RS-177 REENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 327
BY REPRESENTATIVE SEABAUGH
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
TOPS: Relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), provides that
dependent children of parents living overseas meet TOPS residency requirements if
certain conditions are met
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 17:5023(B)(5), relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students; to
3 provide relative to residency requirements with respect to initial eligibility for a
4 program award; and to provide for related matters.
5Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 17:5023(B)(5) is hereby enacted to read as follows:
7 ยง5023. Residency requirements
8 * * *
9 B. Except as provided by Subsection D of this Section, to be eligible for an
10 award pursuant to this Chapter, a dependent student, as defined by the administering
11 agency, shall meet one of the following requirements:
12 * * *
13 (5) His parent or court-ordered custodian meets all of the following criteria:
14 (a) He is living outside the United States or its territories.
15 (b) He is not on active duty with the United States armed forces.
16 (c) He was a resident of Louisiana who actually lived in Louisiana for at
17 least the twenty-four months preceding the date he started living outside the United
18 States or its territories.
Page 1 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 23RS-177 REENGROSSED
HB NO. 327
1 (d) He has remained a resident of Louisiana through the date of the student's
2 graduation from high school or completion of a home study program approved by
3 the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
4 * * *
5 Section 2. The provisions of R.S. 17:5023(B)(5) as enacted by this Act shall be
6applied retroactively to August 1, 2015, as well as prospectively.
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 327 Reengrossed 2023 Regular Session Seabaugh
Abstract: Provides that children with parents living overseas meet TOPS residency
requirements under certain conditions.
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, including residency
requirements. Proposed law provides that a student satisfies the residency requirements if
his parent or court-ordered custodian:
(1)Is living outside the U.S.
(2)Is not on active duty with the U.S. armed forces.
(3)Was a resident of La. who actually lived in La. for at least the 24 months preceding
the date he started living outside the U.S.
(4)Has remained a resident of La. through the date of the student's graduation from high
school or completion of an approved home study program.
(Adds R.S. 17:5023(B)(5))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Make technical changes.
Page 2 of 2
CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.