LA HR17

Board of Regents, Louisiana Works, and Louisiana Economic Development must jointly study the state's return on investment for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) and submit findings to the House Committee on Education by March 1, 2027.

The Kathleen Babineaux Blanco Public Policy Center at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will collaborate on designing the research framework and collecting data.

Required study elements include analysis of TOPS recipients' post-graduation outcomes such as workforce participation, in-state employment retention, and average earnings compared to non-recipients.

The study must assess whether current award levels and institutional distribution align with Louisiana's workforce needs and economic development priorities.

The study will not review individual eligibility criteria or award determinations, focusing instead on long-term economic and workforce trends to inform future policy.