Louisiana HB 654: SCHOOLS/CHOICE:  Expands eligibility for the school voucher program

Bill Text

HLS 18RS-1022 ORIGINAL
2018 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 654
BY REPRESENTATIVE NANCY LANDRY
SCHOOLS/CHOICE: Expands eligibility for the school voucher program
1 AN ACT
2 To amend and reenact R.S. 17:4013(2), relative to the Student Scholarships for Educational
3 Excellence Program; to broaden the definition of eligible student for program
4 purposes; and to provide for related matters.
5 Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
6 Section 1. R.S. 17:4013(2) is hereby amended and reenacted to read as follows:
7 §4013. Definitions
8 As used in this Chapter, unless otherwise clearly indicated, the following
9 terms mean:
10 * * *
11 (2) "Eligible student" means a any of the following:
12 (a) A student who resides in Louisiana, is a member of a family with a total
13 income that does not exceed two hundred fifty percent of the current federal poverty
14 guidelines as established by the federal office of management and budget, and who
15 meets any one of the following criteria:
16 (a) (i) Is entering kindergarten and has enrolled in the local school system
17 in which the public school he would have otherwise attended is located or in a school
18 under the jurisdiction of the Recovery School District. Each local school system or
19 the Recovery School District shall conduct its annual kindergarten enrollment
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.

HLS 18RS-1022 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 654
1 process and shall report such enrollment to the department prior to the program
2 enrollment process.
3 (b) (ii) Was enrolled in a public school in Louisiana on October first and on
4 February first of the most recent school year pursuant to the definition of student
5 membership established by the state board for purposes of the minimum foundation
6 program formula, and such school received a letter grade of "C", "D", or "F" or any
7 variation thereof, for the most recent year pursuant to the school and district
8 accountability system.
9 (c) (iii) Received a scholarship pursuant to this Chapter in the previous school
10 year.
11 (b) Is the dependent child of a member of the military stationed in Louisiana.
12 (c) Is in foster care pursuant to placement through the Department of
13 Children and Family Services.
14 (d) Is determined to be a victim of bullying pursuant to R.S. 17:416.13.
15 * * *
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 654 Original 2018 Regular Session Nancy Landry
Abstract: Broadens definition of eligible student for purposes of the Student Scholarships
for Educational Excellence Program.
Present law provides for the Student Scholarships for Educational Excellence Program.
Provides that to be eligible, a student shall reside in La., shall be a member of a family with
a total income that does not exceed 250% of the current federal poverty guidelines, and shall
meet any one of the following criteria:
(1) Is entering kindergarten and has enrolled in the local school system in which the
public school he would have otherwise attended is located or in a school under the
jurisdiction of the Recovery School District.
(2) Was enrolled in a public school in Louisiana on October 1
st and on February 1
st of
the most recent school year and such school received a letter grade of "C", "D", or
"F" for the most recent year.
(3) Received a scholarship in the previous school year.
Proposed law retains present law.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.

HLS 18RS-1022 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 654
Proposed law expands eligibility to children who meet any of the following criteria:
(1) Is the dependent child of a member of the military stationed in La.
(2) Is in foster care pursuant to placement through the Dept. of Children and Family
Services.
(3) Is determined to be a victim of bullying pursuant to present law R.S. 17:416.13.
(Amends R.S. 17:4013(2))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.