This bill enacts a new provision under R.S. 17:5023(B)(5) concerning the residency requirements for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students in Louisiana. It specifies that to be eligible for an award, a dependent student must have a parent or court-ordered custodian who meets several criteria. These criteria include living outside the United States or its territories, not being on active duty with the U.S. armed forces, having been a resident of Louisiana for at least the twenty-four months prior to moving outside the U.S., and maintaining residency in Louisiana until the student graduates from high school or completes an approved home study program.

The new legal language clarifies the conditions under which a student can qualify for the program based on their parent's or custodian's residency status. This addition aims to ensure that students who have ties to Louisiana through their guardianship can still access educational opportunities, even if they are currently living abroad.