A proposed Senate bill would put a cap on TOPS scholarships at a level that would cover tuition at every other state public college except LSU and the University of New Orleans. The TOPS base award for LSU is worth $3,494 per academic year, but under Senate Bill 85 — submitted by Sen. Butch Gautreaux — the base award would be worth only $3,200. Tuition is expected to increase by 5 percent at the University, along with higher student fees. If the bill is approved by the Legislature, whose session begins next Monday, the change would mean an increase of more than $250 that wouldn’t be covered under TOPS. The bill could help Louisiana cushion Gov. Bobby Jindal’s proposed cuts. “A cap at this time — at this level — could cause the better students in the state to leave the state,” said Chancellor Michael Martin. The proposed cap would still cover most of LSU’s tuition and wouldn’t affect the TOPS Performance or Honors awards.—-Contact Kyle Bove at [email protected]