LA HB558

Amends eligibility requirements for the M.J. Foster Promise Program, a financial assistance program for students attending two-year public postsecondary institutions or proprietary schools

Allows individuals convicted of certain crimes listed in R.S. 13:5401(B)(1)(f) to be eligible, including aggravated battery, second degree battery, aggravated assault, aggravated criminal damage to property, second degree robbery, simple robbery, purse snatching, and aggravated flight from an officer

Maintains ineligibility for convictions of 55 specific violent crimes including murder, rape, kidnapping, armed robbery, human trafficking, terrorism, and domestic abuse offenses

Retains disqualifying status for seven specific offenses from the otherwise-eligible list: battery of a police officer, disarming of a peace officer, aggravated assault with a firearm, simple kidnapping, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, aggravated arson, and home invasion

House Committee on Education amended the original bill to restore four crimes to the ineligibility list: disarming of a peace officer, false imprisonment with a dangerous weapon, aggravated arson, and home invasion