HLS 23RS-837 ENGROSSED
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 485
BY REPRESENTATIVES BRASS, AMEDEE, EMERSON, FREEMAN, FREIBERG,
GEYMANN, HARRIS, AND JEFFERSON
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
STUDENT/LOANS-SCHOLARSHP: Creates the Louisiana National Guard Patriot
Scholarship Program to cover the cost of mandatory fees for members attending La.
public postsecondary education institutions
1 AN ACT
2To enact Chapter 46 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950, to be comprised
3 of R.S. 17:4101 through 4103, relative to scholarships; to create a scholarship
4 program for members of the Louisiana National Guard; to provide for program
5 administration by the Board of Regents; to provide for eligibility and award amounts;
6 to provide for rules; and to provide for related matters.
7Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
8 Section 1. The legislature finds that is necessary to properly recruit and compensate
9members and prospective members of the Louisiana National Guard for the important role
10they play in the safety and security of the state and nation. The state of Louisiana has
11increasingly called upon members of the Louisiana National Guard to help protect citizens
12during numerous all-hazards emergency operations. At all times, the members of the
13Louisiana National Guard have answered the state's call, selflessly walking into harm's way
14to save lives, protect property, and ease the suffering of our citizens. The purpose of the
15Louisiana National Guard Patriot Scholarship Program is to recognize the tremendous
16impact that the individual members of the Louisiana National Guard have on the security and
17safety of the state of Louisiana and the nation.
18 Section 2. Chapter 46 of Title 17 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes of 1950,
19comprised of R.S. 17:4101 through 4103, is hereby enacted to read as follows:
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are additions. HLS 23RS-837 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 485
1 CHAPTER 46. LOUISIANA NATIONAL GUARD
2 PATRIOT SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
3 §4101. Louisiana National Guard Patriot Scholarship Program; creation; eligibility
4 A. The Louisiana National Guard Patriot Scholarship Program is hereby
5 created for the purpose of covering the cost of mandatory fees at public
6 postsecondary education institutions.
7 B. In order to qualify for the scholarship, a student shall be a member in
8 good standing with the Louisiana National Guard, enrolled in a Louisiana public
9 postsecondary education institution, and eligible for the tuition exemption provided
10 for in R.S. 29:36.1.
11 C. The scholarship shall be available for an eligible student for up to four
12 academic years or until the receipt of a degree at the baccalaureate level, whichever
13 occurs first. However, any student receiving a scholarship under the provisions of
14 this Chapter who is mobilized or called to active duty is entitled to an extension of
15 the time the scholarship may be claimed equal to the amount of academic time
16 impacted by the time served on active duty.
17 §4102. Administration; scholarship amount; funding
18 A. The administering agency for the scholarship program shall be the Board
19 of Regents. The Louisiana National Guard shall assist the Board of Regents in the
20 administration of the program.
21 B.(1) Upon notice from the public postsecondary education institution and
22 the Louisiana National Guard that the student qualifies for the scholarship for the
23 ensuing academic period, the administering agency shall make payment of the
24 scholarship funds, on behalf of the student, directly to the institution at which such
25 mandatory fees are due. The amount of the scholarship for each eligible student
26 shall be equal to the amount of mandatory fees charged to the student by the
27 institution.
28 (2) The payment of scholarships as provided in this Subsection shall be
29 subject to the appropriation of funds for this purpose.
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HB NO. 485
1 §4103. Rules
2 The administering agency shall adopt rules in accordance with the
3 Administrative Procedure Act for the implementation of the provisions of this
4 Chapter. When developing the rules, the administering agency shall consult with the
5 Louisiana National Guard.
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 485 Engrossed 2023 Regular Session Brass
Abstract: Creates the La. National Guard Patriot Scholarship Program to cover mandatory
fees for members attending public postsecondary education institutions.
Present law (R.S. 29:36.1) provides for a tuition exemption program for members of the La.
National Guard (LNG). Proposed law additionally creates and provides for the La. National
Guard Patriot Scholarship Program to cover mandatory fees for members who meet the
following criteria:
(1)In good standing with the LNG.
(2)Enrolled in a La. public postsecondary education institution.
(3)Eligible for the aforementioned present law tuition exemption.
Proposed law:
(1)Provides a scholarship duration of four academic years or until receipt of a
baccalaureate degree, whichever occurs first; however, extends the duration for
anyone mobilized or called to active duty.
(2)Provides for administration by the Bd. of Regents, which shall adopt program rules
in consultation with the LNG.
(3)Requires the Bd. Regents, upon notice from the institution and the LNG that the
student qualifies for the scholarship for the ensuing academic period, to make
payment of the scholarship funds directly to the institution where the mandatory fees
are due, subject to the appropriation of funds for this purpose.
(Adds R.S. 17:4101-4103)
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