§5043. Returning students

            Notwithstanding any provision of this Chapter to the contrary, any otherwise qualified student who meets each of the following conditions and who enrolls as a first-time freshman in an out-of-state college or university, or beginning with the 2009-2010 academic year, first enrolls as a first-time freshman in an eligible college or university in Louisiana and subsequently enrolls in an out-of-state college or university, may use the program award provided for by this Section at an eligible college or university in Louisiana in accordance with this Section and other applicable provisions of this Chapter; however, the time period of award eligibility set forth in R.S. 17:5002(E) shall be reduced by an equivalent number of units as may be applicable for each semester or equivalent time period that the student is enrolled in an out-of-state college or university:

            (1) The student has been determined by the administering agency to meet the initial eligibility requirements established by this Section for an Opportunity, Performance, or Honors Award.

            (2) The student enrolled as a first-time freshman in one of the following:

            (a) An out-of-state college or university in accordance with the timelines specified by this Section for enrollment in an eligible college or university in Louisiana and the out-of-state college or university is accredited by an institutional accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education.

            (b) An eligible college or university in Louisiana in accordance with the timelines specified by this Section for enrollment, who subsequently enrolled in an out-of-state college or university that is accredited by an institutional accrediting organization recognized by the United States Department of Education, and then reenrolled in an eligible college or university in Louisiana during the 2009-2010 academic year or thereafter.

            (3) While enrolled in such an out-of-state college or university the student met all requirements of this Section that would have been applicable to such student for continuation of the initial award if the student had enrolled in an eligible college or university in Louisiana.

            (4) The student graduated from high school during the 2001-2002 school year or thereafter.

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