TOPS: Provides relative to TOPS-Tech

HLS 26RS-2689 ORIGINAL
2026 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 1128
BY REPRESENTATIVE LARVADAIN
TOPS: Provides relative to TOPS-Tech
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:5002(D)(1) and to enact R.S. 17:5029(G) and 5068(F),
3 relative to TOPS-Tech; to provide for awards and amounts; to provide for qualifying
4 programs; to require reports to the legislature; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 17:5002(D)(1) is hereby amended and reenacted and R.S.
7 17:5029(G) and 5068(F) are hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §5002. Awards and amounts
9 * * *
10 D.(1) Except as otherwise provided in this Subsection, a student who is
11 eligible for a TOPS-Tech Award pursuant to this Chapter and who is enrolled:
12 (a) In an eligible public college or university that does not offer an academic
13 undergraduate degree at the baccalaureate level in those associate's degree or other
14 shorter-term training and education programs as determined by the advisory council
15 pursuant to R.S. 17:3047.1, Louisiana Works, shall be awarded by the state an
16 amount determined by the administering agency to equal the tuition and fees charged
17 by the college or university during the 2016-2017 academic year. If such council
18 Louisiana Works determines that a program is no longer aligned with those
19 priorities, an otherwise eligible student who had previously received an award and
20 enrolled in that program may continue to use the award.
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HLS 26RS-2689 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1128
1 (b) In an eligible college or university other than as provided for in
2 Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph in those associate's degree or other shorter-term
3 training education programs as determined by the advisory council pursuant to R.S.
4 17:3047.1, Louisiana Works, shall be awarded by the state an amount determined by
5 the administering agency to equal the weighted average of the tuition amounts
6 charged to students attending an eligible public college or university that does not
7 offer an academic undergraduate degree at the baccalaureate level during the 2016-
8 2017 academic year tuition and fees charged by the college or university. If such
9 council Louisiana Works determines that a program is no longer aligned with those
10 priorities, an otherwise eligible student who had previously received an award and
11 enrolled in that program may continue to use the award.
12 * * *
13 §5029. Alternative initial eligibility requirements
14 * * *
15 G.(1) Notwithstanding the provisions of R.S. 17:5002, the administering
16 agency may issue a TOPS-Tech award to an individual who fits into one of the
17 following categories:
18 (a) He is a student participating in a registered apprenticeship at a registered
19 apprenticeship sponsor approved by Louisiana Works.
20 (b) He is an employee at a workforce provider approved by Louisiana
21 Works.
22 (2) The award amount for the categories provided in Paragraph (1) of this
23 Subsection shall be equal to the average tuition and fees amounts charged to students
24 attending an eligible college or university in a qualifying program as determined by
25 Louisiana Works pursuant to R.S. 17:5002.
26 (3) The Board of Regents, in coordination with Louisiana Works, shall track
27 program completion, employment placement, earnings outcomes, and other measures
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HLS 26RS-2689 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 1128
1 of return on investment. Underperforming programs may be removed from
2 eligibility in accordance with standards established by rule.
3 * * *
4 §5068. Miscellaneous
5 * * *
6 F. Relative to TOPS-Tech, the Board of Regents and Louisiana Works shall
7 submit an annual report to the legislature summarizing participation, employment
8 outcomes, wage outcomes, regional impact, and return on investment.
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 1128 Original 2026 Regular Session Larvadain
Abstract: Provides relative to TOPS-Tech.
Present law provides for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), a merit
scholarship program for students who meet certain academic criteria in high school and other
requirements. Provides for five award levels, including TOPS-Tech, based on high school
academic criteria, including completion of a specific core curriculum, a minimum GPA on
that core curriculum, and a minimum ACT score.
Present law provides that a student who is eligible for a TOPS-Tech award and who is
enrolled in an eligible institution in an education program eligible for an award as deemed
by the M.J. Foster Promise Program Advisory Council is required to receive an award equal
to tuition charged by the institution during the 2016-2017 academic year. Proposed law
instead requires La. Works to select qualifying education programs, uncouples award
amounts from 2016-2017 tuition amounts, and adds fees to award levels.
Proposed law adds registered apprenticeships through a sponsor approved by La. Works and
employment at a workforce provider approved by La. Works to eligibility for a TOPS-Tech
award.
Proposed law requires the Bd. of Regents and La. Works to submit an annual report to the
legislature relative to certain data from TOPS-Tech distribution and participation.
(Amends R.S. 17:5002(D)(1); Adds R.S. 17:5029(G) and 5068(F))
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