§5027. Postsecondary institution enrollment

            A.(1) Except as otherwise provided by this Section, to be eligible for an award pursuant to this Chapter, the student shall enroll in an eligible college or university as a first-time freshman not later than the semester, excluding summer semesters or sessions, immediately following the first anniversary of the date that the student graduated from high school.

            (2) The administering agency may grant exceptions to Paragraph (1) of this Subsection for cause.

            (3) A student who joins the United States Armed Forces within one year after graduating from high school meets the eligibility requirement of this Section if he enrolls in an eligible college or university as a first-time freshman not later than the semester, excluding summer semesters or sessions, immediately following the fifth anniversary of the date that the student graduated from high school; however, effective for the 1996-1997 school year and thereafter, if, on or prior to the fifth anniversary of the date that the student graduated from high school, the student reenlists in the United States Armed Forces and maintains continuous active duty, the five-year period shall be extended to the semester immediately following the one-year anniversary of the student's separation from active duty service.

            B. "Eligible college or university" means a public college or university in this state or an independent college or university in the state that is a member of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and that is accredited by an institutional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education.

            C. Notwithstanding any provision of Subsection B of this Section, any student who meets all applicable initial and continuing program eligibility requirements of this Chapter for an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors Award may use the award at an out-of-state nonpublic college or university when each of the following conditions is met:

            (1) The college or university is accredited by an institutional accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education.

            (2) All programs and services at the college or university are specifically designed to accommodate deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

            (3) Deaf and hard-of-hearing students comprise the majority of students enrolled at the college or university at the undergraduate level.

            (4) The award recipient meets the admission requirements of the college or university that are applicable to deaf and hard-of-hearing students.

            (5) The initial program award is made to the student for the 2005-2006 award year or thereafter.

            (6) The college or university provides to the administering agency such information as would otherwise be required by the agency for program administration purposes from an eligible Louisiana college or university if the student was enrolled in such Louisiana institution.

            D.(1) Effective for the 2009-2010 award year and thereafter, for purposes of the TOPS-Tech Award as provided by this Chapter, the term "eligible colleges and universities" shall include any school that has a valid and current certificate of registration issued by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology in accordance with law and that is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education and any proprietary school that has a valid and current license issued by the Board of Regents in accordance with law and that is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education. Such a school also shall comply with all other applicable provisions of this Chapter and rules adopted by the administering agency relative to a college or university being initially eligible and remaining eligible for program purposes.

            (2) Effective for the 2010-2011 award year and thereafter, a student who is the recipient of an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors award and who pursues skill or occupational training as defined by the administering agency, including a vocational or technical education certificate or diploma program or a nonacademic undergraduate degree, may use the award at any school that has a valid and current certificate of registration issued by the Louisiana State Board of Cosmetology in accordance with law and that is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education and at any proprietary school that has a valid and current license issued by the Board of Regents in accordance with law and that is accredited by an accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education. Such a school shall comply with all other applicable provisions of this Chapter and rules adopted by the administering agency relative to a college or university being initially eligible and remaining eligible for program purposes.

            Acts 2015, No. 227, §1; Acts 2021, No. 95, §1, eff. June 4, 2021.