House Bill No. by Representative Hughes aims to amend and reenact specific sections of the Louisiana Revised Statutes related to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), particularly focusing on the TOPS Tech and TOPS Tech Early Start programs. The bill introduces new provisions that require the advisory council to identify eligible programs for students to enroll in to receive TOPS-Tech or TOPS-Tech Early Start awards. It also emphasizes that the council will consider qualifications for programs under the M.J. Foster Promise Program when making these identifications.

Additionally, the bill modifies the eligibility criteria for TOPS-Tech awards by shifting the determination of program alignment with workforce priorities from the Board of Regents and the Louisiana Workforce Investment Council to the advisory council. It also updates the requirements for the TOPS-Tech Early Start Award, including new scoring criteria for assessments and the introduction of eligibility requirements for technical dual enrollment courses. The changes are set to take effect for awards starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

Statutes affected:
HB161 Original: 17:5002(D)(1), 17:5081(B)(1)
HB161 Engrossed: 17:5002(D)(1), 17:5081(B)(1)
HB161 Reengrossed: 17:5002(D)(1), 17:5081(B)(1)
HB161 Enrolled: 17:5002(D)(1), 17:5081(B)(1)