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Regular Session, 2011 ENROLLED
SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 61
BY SENATORS THOMPSON, KOSTELKA, RI SER AND WALSWORTH
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON
To urge and request the Board of Regents to work with the Board of Supervisors of
Community and Technical Colleges to study the two-year college services offered
to the greater northeast Louisiana area, and to determine how the state can best meet
the educational needs of students and the economic and workforce development
needs of this region of the state.
WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section 5(D)(2) of the Constitution of Louisiana provides,
relative to public institutions of postsecondary education, that it is a power, duty, and
responsibility of the Board of Regents to approve a proposed degree program, department
of instruction, division, or similar subdivision; and
WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section 5(D)(3)(a) of the Constitution of Louisiana further
provides that it also is a power, duty, and responsibility of the board to study the need for
and feasibility of creating a new institution of postsecondary education or merging
institutions; and
WHEREAS, Article VIII, Section 5(D)(3)(b) of the Constitution of Louisiana
specifies that if the creation of a new institution or a merger is proposed, the Board of
Regents shall report its written findings and recommendations to the legislature within one
year and specifies further that only after the report has been filed, or after one year from the
receipt of a request for a report from the legislature if no report is filed, may the legislature
take affirmative action on such a proposal and then only by a law enacted by two-thirds of
the elected members of each house; and
WHEREAS, community college services, provided through the Louisiana
Community and Technical College System, have proven effective in serving individuals and
communities by offering targeted academic programs, technical education, and occupational
training programs designed to meet the state's workforce and economic development needs;
and SCR NO. 61 ENROLLED
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WHEREAS, there is a need for greater coordination and increased access to public
postsecondary education two-year academic degree programs to meet the educational needs
of students and the economic and workforce development needs in the greater northeast
Louisiana area; and
WHEREAS, the provision of a more coordinated set of two-year college services in
the greater northeast Louisiana area will provide access to improved opportunities and
offerings to an under-served area of the state.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
urge and request the Board of Regents and the Board of Supervisors for Community and
Technical Colleges to study the two-year college services in the greater northeast Louisiana
area, and to determine how the state can best meet the educational needs of students and the
economic and workforce development needs of this region of the state.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana further requests the
Board of Regents to submit a written report of its findings and recommendations to the
Senate Committee on Education and House Committee on Education, not later than sixty
days prior to the beginning of the 2012 Regular Session of the Legislature.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be transmitted to the
commissioner of higher education, the president of the Louisiana Community and Technical
College System, the chancellor of Louisiana Delta Community College, and the director of
the Northeast Louisiana Technical College.
PRESIDENT OF THE SENATE
SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES