This bill amends and reenacts specific sections of Louisiana's Revised Statutes related to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), specifically focusing on the TOPS Tech and TOPS Tech Early Start programs. It introduces new eligibility requirements and responsibilities for an advisory council that will identify programs eligible for TOPS-Tech awards. The council will consider qualifications for programs under the M.J. Foster Promise Program when determining eligible programs. Additionally, the bill modifies the criteria for awarding TOPS-Tech funds, shifting the determination of program alignment with workforce priorities from the Board of Regents and the Louisiana Workforce Investment Council to the advisory council.

Key changes include the deletion of previous language regarding the alignment of programs with state workforce priorities and the introduction of new criteria for eligibility under the TOPS-Tech Early Start Award. The bill specifies that students must meet certain assessment scores or attain a silver level on the ACT WorkKeys system to qualify for the award. The provisions of this Act will apply to awards starting in the 2026-2027 school year and will take effect upon the governor's signature or after the designated period for bills to become law without signature.

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)
HB161 Act : 17:5002(D)(1), 17:5081(B)(1)