The bill amends existing laws regarding the credit for donations to school tuition organizations in Louisiana, specifically focusing on scholarship limits and distribution methods. It establishes that scholarship payments will now be distributed on a quarterly basis rather than in specific months, with payments made directly to parents of qualified students and sent to the schools where the students are enrolled. Additionally, parents must approve these payments for deposit, and if made by check, they may endorse it electronically. The bill also clarifies that parents cannot designate anyone associated with the school to endorse the checks on their behalf.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the testing requirements for qualified schools, allowing them to administer either state-required examinations or nationally norm-referenced tests. It also permits qualified students to receive additional scholarships or financial assistance, with the total amount of scholarships from all sources not exceeding the actual tuition and fees at the qualified school. The Department of Education is tasked with verifying that the total scholarships do not exceed these limits, and if they do, the school tuition organization responsible for the excess must refund the state.

Statutes affected:
SB27 Original: 47:6301(B)(1)
SB27 Engrossed: 47:6301(B)(1)
SB27 Reengrossed: 47:6301(B)(1)
SB27 Enrolled: 47:6301(B)(1)
SB27 Act 403: 47:6301(B)(1)