Bill > HB678

This bill allows students who qualify for a TOPS (Taylor Opportunity Program for Students) award, a state scholarship program, but graduate from an out-of-state college to use any remaining award money for medical or dental school in Louisiana. To be eligible, students must have completed an undergraduate degree at an out-of-state institution and then enroll in a qualifying medical, osteopathic medicine, or dentistry program in Louisiana, starting in the 2025-2026 academic year. These students will need to sign a promissory note to repay the award amount plus interest after graduation, unless they complete a residency program and then practice medicine or dentistry full-time in Louisiana for three consecutive years, or meet other exemption criteria established by the administering agency, which is the Board of Regents. The unused award amount applied to medical or dental school cannot exceed eight semesters and will be capped at the tuition for the medical/dental program or the highest tuition cost at a public college in Louisiana, whichever is less. Students must still meet academic and other TOPS requirements, which may be adapted for postgraduate study. The Board of Regents will create rules for collecting repayments and defining exceptions.

Education

https://www.legis.la.gov/legis/BillInfo.aspx?s=26rs&b=HB678&sbi=y