Struck = removed from the bill ·
added = the amendment's new text.
ENROLLEDHCAHB325 3391 2768 HOUSE COMMITTEE AMENDMENTS Regular Session HOUSEAmendments BILLproposed NO.by House Committee on Education to Original House Bill No.
325 BYby REPRESENTATIVESRepresentative BRASS,Brass ADAMS,AMENDMENT BERAULT,NO. BILLINGS, BROUSSARD, CARLSON, WILFORD CARTER, CARVER, CHASSION, EDMONSTON, FISHER, FREEMAN,FREIBERG,GLORIOSO,GREEN,DANAHENRY,ILLG, JACKSON, TRAVIS JOHNSON, JORDAN, KNOX, LACOMBE, LAFLEUR, TERRY LANDRY, LYONS, MARCELLE, MARTINEZ, MENA, MOORE, MURRAY, PHELPS, ST.
BLANC,1 TAYLOR,On WALTERS,page WYBLE,2, ANDdelete YOUNGline AND4 SENATORSand BARROW,insert BOUDREAUX,"students CARTER,graduating CATHEY,from DUPLESSIS,high FOIL,school HARRIS,during" HENSGENS,Page JACKSON-ANDREWS,1 LUNEAU,of MIZELL,1 PRICE,CODING: AND REESE AN ACT To amend and reenact R.S.
17:5001 and 5042 and to enact R.S.
17:5024(D) and 5065(E), relative to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students;
to revise academic initial eligibilitycriteria for a TOPS-Tech award;
to provide for qualification based on the attainment of certain early college credits;
to provide for initial and continuing eligibility for certain students;
to provide for funding of certain awards;
to provide for applicability;
to provide for effectiveness;
and to provide for related matters.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
Section 1.
R.S.
17:5001 and 5042 are hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
17:5024(D) and 5065(E) are herebyenacted to read as follows:
§5001.
Taylor Opportunity Program for Students As part of the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, the state shall provide financial assistance to any eligible student who enrolls on a full-time basis,unlessotherwiseprovidedbylaw,inaneligiblecollegeoruniversitytopursue Page 1 of 5 CODING:
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325 ENROLLED anacademicundergraduatedegreeorskill oroccupationaltrainingasdefinedbythe administering agency including a vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program or a nonacademic undergraduate degree.
* * * §5024.
Academic requirements * * * D.(1) Notwithstanding anyother provision of this Section, a student who is otherwise eligible for a TOPS-Tech award pursuant to this Chapter shall qualifyfor theawardifhemeetsatleasttwoofthefollowingrequirementsasdeterminedbythe administering agency:
(a) Attainment of a minimum gradepoint average on the core curriculum as provided in Subsection A of this Section.
(b) AttainmentofaminimumACTscoreasprovidedinSubsectionBofthis Section.
(c) Successful completionofeitheratleastninecredithoursofearlycollege credit,whichmaybeattainedthroughacademicortechnicaldualenrollmentcourses, or equivalent validated skills and learning measures as approved by the Statewide Articulation and Transfer Council.
(2) The provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection are applicable to students graduating from high school during or after the 2026-2027 academic year.
* * * §5042.
Maintaining eligibility;
TOPS-Tech A.
Through the 2025-2026 academic year, to To maintain continued state payment of any amount pursuant to a TOPS-Tech Award once enrolled in an institution, a student shall meet all of the following:
(1) Make steadyacademic progress as defined by the administering agency towardcompletionoftherequirementsoftheprograminwhichenrolled,earningnot less than the minimum number of hours of credit required for full-time standing or Page 2 of 5 CODING:
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325 ENROLLED the required number of hours needed to complete the program's requirements.
If at anytime a student fails to maintain the cumulative grade point average required for continuation in the program or as of the end of anyterm during the school year fails to make steady academic progress as defined by the administering agency, the student shall become ineligible for further payments.
Payments may be reinstated upon attainment of the grade point average required for continuation of the original award and the standards for steady academic progress as defined by the administering agency, provided that the student has maintained other continuation requirements and the period of ineligibility did not persist for more than one year from the date of loss of eligibility.
If this one-year period is interrupted due to a student's active dutyservice in the United States Armed Forces, the one-yearperiod shall be extended for a length of time equal to the student's active duty service, not to exceed four years, unless the student reenlists in the United States Armed Forces andmaintains continuous activeduty,in whichcasetheperiodshallbeextendedfor a length of time equal to the student's active duty service;
or unless the student is granted an exception for cause bythe administering agency.
(2) Maintain continuous enrollment as a full-time student unless granted an exception for cause bythe administering agency.
(3) Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 calculated on a 4.00 scale.
(4) Have no criminal conviction, except for misdemeanor traffic violations and, if the student has been in the United States Armed Forces and has separated from such service, has received an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions.
B.
Beginningwiththe2026-2027academicyear,tomaintaincontinuedstate payment of any amount pursuant to a TOPS-Tech Award once enrolled in an institution, a student shall meet all of the following:
(1) Make steadyacademic progress as defined by the administering agency toward completion of the requirements of the program in which enrolled, while enrolled either part-time or full-time.
If at any time a student fails to maintain the Page 3 of 5 CODING:
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325 ENROLLED cumulativegradepoint average requiredfor continuation in theprogramorasofthe end of any term during the school year fails to make steady academic progress as defined bythe administering agency, the student shall become ineligible for further payments.
Payments may be reinstated upon attainment of the grade point average requiredforcontinuationoftheoriginalawardandthestandardsforsteadyacademic progress as defined by the administering agency, provided that the student has maintained other continuation requirements and the period of ineligibility did not persist for more than one year from the date of loss of eligibility.
If this one-year periodisinterruptedduetoastudent'sactivedutyserviceintheUnitedStatesArmed Forces, the one-year period shall be extended for a length of time equal to the student's active dutyservice, not to exceedfour years, unless the student reenlists in theUnitedStatesArmedForcesandmaintainscontinuousactiveduty,inwhichcase the period shall be extended for a length of time equal to the student's active duty service;
or unless the student is granted an exception for cause bythe administering agency.
(2) Maintaincontinuousenrollmentasafull-timeorpart-timestudentunless granted an exception for cause bythe administering agency.
(3) Have a cumulative grade point average of at least 2.50 calculated on a 4.00 scale.
(4) Have no criminal conviction, except for misdemeanor traffic violations and, if the student has been in the United States Armed Forces and has separated from such service, has received an honorable discharge or general discharge under honorable conditions.
* * * §5065.
Funding * * * E.
Payment of TOPS-Tech awards for part-time students provided pursuant to the provisions of this Chapter shall be made only from monies remaining in the funds appropriated for the purpose of paying TOPS awards.
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325 ENROLLED Section 2.
This Act shall become effective upon signature bythe governor or, if not signedbythegovernor,uponexpirationofthetimeforbillstobecomelawwithoutsignature by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana.
If vetoed bythe governor and subsequentlyapprovedbythe legislature, this Act shall become effective on the dayfollowing such approval.
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF LOUISIANA APPROVED:
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