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            A. There is hereby created the M.J. Foster Promise Program to provide a financial assistance award to an eligible student who enrolls in a qualified program at a two-year public postsecondary education institution or an accredited proprietary school licensed by the Board of Regents to pursue an associate degree or a shorter-term postsecondary education credential that is a requisite for certain high-demand, high-wage occupations aligned to Louisiana’s workforce priorities.

            B.(1) As funds allow, an award shall be provided to apply toward the tuition, required fees, and mandatory books and instructional materials of each eligible student who enrolls in a qualified program as defined pursuant to La. Rev. Stat. 17:3047.1. The award shall be known as the “M.J. Foster Promise Award”, referred to in this Chapter as the “award”.

            (2)(a) The award shall be paid by the state on behalf of an award recipient to the two-year public postsecondary education institution or proprietary school where the award recipient is enrolled in a qualified program.

            (b) As a condition for a two-year public postsecondary education institution or proprietary school to remain eligible to receive payment from the state on behalf of an award recipient for qualified programs offering shorter-term credentials, the institution shall identify and provide a path for the shorter-term credentials earned to be stackable and transferable as academic credit.

            C.(1)(a) Award amounts shall not exceed three thousand two hundred dollars per year for each award recipient enrolled full-time in a qualified program. The administering agency shall determine the reduced award amount for any award recipient who is enrolled less than full-time.

            (b) For qualified programs of less than a year duration, the award may be greater than the amount provided in Subparagraph (a) of this Paragraph but shall not exceed the amount provided in Paragraph (2) of this Subsection.

            (2) Total award payments for an award recipient shall not exceed six thousand four hundred dollars.

            D. The award shall be applicable only to the cost of tuition, required fees, and mandatory books and instructional materials.

            E.(1)(a) A student who is eligible for the award pursuant to this Chapter and who also qualifies for any other federal, state, or institutional financial aid or award may use the initial award payment before all other financial aid and awards are applied but only for the balance due for tuition, required fees, and mandatory books and instructional materials.

            (b) After the initial payment, the student may use the award only after any other federal, state, or institutional financial aid and awards are applied and only for the balance due for tuition, required fees, and mandatory books and instruction materials. For purposes of this Paragraph, federal financial aid shall not include funding from student loans, work-study, or the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.

            (2) Notwithstanding the provisions of Paragraph (1) of this Subsection to the contrary, an eligible student who initially qualifies for an award pursuant to this Chapter and a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students award as provided pursuant to Chapter 50 of this Title, shall receive the highest award available and shall comply with the requirements of the award received.

            Acts 2021, No. 457, §1, eff. June 23, 2021; Acts 2023, No. 287, §1, eff. June 12, 2023.