HLS 26RS-1206 ORIGINALENGROSSED Regular Session HOUSE BILL NO.

Revises the initial and continuing eligibility requirements for a TOPS-Tech award andraisestheawardamountatLouisianaCommunityandTechnicalCollegeSystemand (LCTCS)provides institutionsfor the award amount at public colleges and universities AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.

* * * (c) In an eligible program at a public college underor university, notwithstanding anyprovision of this Subsection to the supervisioncontrary, andshall managementbe ofawarded bythe state either an amount determined by the Boardadministering ofagency Supervisorsto ofequal Communitythe andaward Technicalamount Collegesfor asthat providedprogram inat R.S.that college or university during the 2025-2026 academic year or four thousand five hundred dollars, whichever is greater.

17:3217.1(A), notwithstanding anyprovision of this Subsection to the contrary, shall be awarded by the state four thousand five hundred dollars.

HLS 26RS-1206 ORIGINALENGROSSED HB NO.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph, a student who is otherwise eligible for a TOPS-Tech award pursuant to this Chapter maydefer his award acceptance and shall retain his award eligibilityif he enrolls as a first-time freshman in a college under the supervision and management of the Page 2 of 5 CODING:

HLS 26RS-1206 ORIGINALENGROSSED HB NO.

482 Boarda offirst-time Supervisorsfreshman ofin Communityan andeligible Technicalprogram Collegesat asa providedpublic incollege R.S.or universityprior to reaching the age of twenty-five.

17:3217.1(A) prior to reaching the age of twenty-five.

HLS 26RS-1206 ORIGINALENGROSSED HB NO.

1:13(B) and 24:177(E)] HB 482 OriginalEngrossed 2026 Regular Session Turner Abstract:

Revises the initial and continuing eligibility requirements for a TOPS-Tech award and raisesprovides for the award amount to equal $4,500 or the award amount for a specific program at La.a specific institution during the 2025-2026 academic year, whichever is greater.

Community and Technical Colleges System (LCTCS) institutions.

Award amount Present law providesbases that award amounts aton publicthe postsecondaryeducationamount institutionsof are equal to the tuition charged bybythe the institution during the 2016-2017 academic year.

Proposed law retains present law except provides that the award amount for a TOPS-Tech eligible student who enrolls atin an LCTCSeligible program at a public college or university shall be $4,500,either applicablethe toaward thoseamount enrollingfor asthat first-timeprogram freshmenat duringthat orinstitution afterfor the 2026-20272025-2026 academic year.year or $4,500, whichever is greater.

Proposed law provides that proposed law is applicable to those enrolling as first-time freshmen during or after the 2026-2027 academic year.

ProposedProposedlawprovidesthatastudent lawwhoisotherwiseeligiblefor provides than student who is otherwise eligible for a TOPS-TechTOPS-Techawardmay award may defer his award acceptance while retaining eligibility if he enrolls as a first-time freshman in an eligible program at any LCTCSpublic college or university prior to turning 25 years old.

HLS 26RS-1206 ORIGINALENGROSSED HB NO.

17:5002(D)(1)(c) and 5024(D)) PageSummary 5 of 5Amendments CODING:Adopted by House The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original bill:

1.

Provide that the award amount is either $4,500 or the 2025-2026 academic year award amount, whichever is greater, and apply this revised award amount to students enrolled in an eligible program at any public college or university (not just an LCTCS institution).

2.

AllowTOPS-Tech-eligiblestudentstodefertheirawardandmaintaineligibility if theyenroll in anypublic college or university(not just an LCTCS institution) prior to turning 25.

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