The bill amends several sections of the Louisiana Revised Statutes, specifically R.S. 17:236(A) and 4014, while introducing the Louisiana Giving All True Opportunity to Rise (LA GATOR) Scholarship Program under R.S. 17:3996(B)(82) and Chapter 43-C. This new 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 also requires 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. Additionally, it terminates the existing Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program effective June 30, 2025, transitioning to the LA GATOR Scholarship Program.

The legislation outlines specific eligibility criteria for students, schools, and service providers, emphasizing parental choice and equitable access to quality education. Students must either 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 bill also includes provisions for students with exceptionalities and mandates annual reporting on program implementation. Furthermore, it allows the Department of Education to enter into contracts for program management and repeals several existing sections of law related to the program, with effective dates specified for various provisions.

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)