Jindal Proposes Constitutional Protection For TOPS

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Governor Bobby Jindal is proposing a constitutional protection for the state's popular free college tuition program, known as TOPS.

Jindal's proposal, announced Wednesday, comes even as complaints have risen that such funding dedications make budget cutting decisions more difficult because they limit dollars available to cut.

Lawmakers will consider the governor's constitutional amendment idea for the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students in the regular session that begins in April. It would require support of two-thirds of lawmakers and approval from voters.

The proposal would take a slice of state tobacco settlement money, about $58 million dollars each year currently divided between health care and education trust funds, and dedicate that money to the TOPS program.

TOPS costs more than $130 million annually.