Louisiana House Bill HCR147

Louisiana 2012 Regular Session

• Introduced: 5/14/12
• Refer: 5/15/12

Caption

Requests the Board of Regents to study and report on the reorganization of the governance of La. public colleges and universities that offer academic degrees at the baccalaureate level and higher as proposed by HB No. 927 of the 2012 R.S.

Impact

The resolution reflects legislative intent to strengthen the governance of higher education in Louisiana. By prompting the Board of Regents to evaluate the current placement of colleges and universities, lawmakers hope to ensure that these institutions operate under the most effective management systems. The outcome of the study could lead to significant changes in how postsecondary education is administered in the state, shaping the landscape for students and faculty alike. Such restructuring may also dictate funding allocation and resource management across the state's public academic institutions.

Summary

HCR147 is a House Concurrent Resolution that urges the Board of Regents in Louisiana to conduct a comprehensive study on the placement and governance of public colleges and universities within the state. Specifically, it tasks the Board with examining the existing organizational structures relative to the Louisiana State University System, Southern University System, and University of Louisiana System. This review is meant to assess the potential benefits of reorganizing these institutions to enhance public postsecondary education for citizens of Louisiana, referencing the framework proposed by House Bill No. 927 from the 2012 Regular Session.

Sentiment

The sentiment around HCR147 appears to be focused on collaboration and integrity in higher education governance. Supporters view the proposed study as a necessary step to ensure that educational institutions are well-equipped to meet current and future demands. However, there might be underlying concerns about the bureaucratic processes involved, as the resolution follows an extensive history of studies already conducted by the Board of Regents on this topic, adding some skepticism about the need for further inquiries.

Contention

One notable point of contention surrounding HCR147 is the previous deferral of House Bill No. 927, which proposed significant changes to the organizational structure of Louisiana's public colleges and universities. The resolution appears to be a response to recommendations from legal counsel indicating that the legislative action was premature. This caution raises questions about the legislative approach to governance reform in higher education and whether this resolution would effectively address the issues faced by institutions in Louisiana.