The bill amends several sections of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, specifically R.S. 17:236(A) and 4014, while enacting new provisions under R.S. 17:3996(B)(82) and Chapter 43-C, which establishes the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program. This program is designed to provide state funding for educational options, allowing parents to allocate part of their tax dollars into educational scholarship accounts for their children. The bill mandates the state Department of Education to report to the legislature on the educational options receiving state funding, detailing student eligibility, school participation, and program funds. It also terminates the existing Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program effective June 30, 2025, transitioning to the new LA GATOR Scholarship Program, which includes provisions for student and school eligibility, financial audits, and an online fraud reporting service.

The LA GATOR Scholarship Program will allocate funds quarterly to student accounts based on appropriated funds, with specific conditions for fund usage, retention, or return to the state general fund. The bill outlines eligibility criteria for students and participating schools, emphasizing compliance with educational standards and attendance requirements. It allows nonpublic schools from the previous program to transition into the new program without additional applications, ensuring continuity for students. Additionally, the bill specifies that students must graduate from a public or approved nonpublic high school or be certified by a parent as having completed an educational program at the twelfth-grade level through the LA GATOR Scholarship Program. The Department of Education is also authorized to enter into contracts for program management, and various sections of existing law related to the program are repealed.

Statutes affected:
SB313 Original: 17:236(A)
SB313 Engrossed: 17:236(A), 17:3996(B)
SB313 Reengrossed:
SB313 Re-Reengrossed: 17:236(A)
SB313 Enrolled: 17:236(A)
SB313 Act : 17:236(A)