HLS 13RS-920 ENGROSSED
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Regular Session, 2013
HOUSE BILL NO. 401
BY REPRESENTATIVE CARTER
STUDENT/TUITION: Authorizes the public postsecondary education management boards
to increase tuition and fee amounts under certain circumstances
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 17:3351.17, relative to tuition and mandatory fee amounts for public2
postsecondary education institutions; to authorize each public postsecondary3
education management board to increase tuition and mandatory fee amounts if an4
institution meets certain criteria; to provide for limitations, waivers, and5
effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.6
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:7
Section 1. R.S. 17: 3351.17 is hereby enacted to read as follows:8
ยง3351.17. Public postsecondary education management boards; tuition and9
attendance fee increases; conditions; waivers10
A. In addition to the authority granted by any other provision of law,11
including but not limited to R.S. 17:3139.5, and in accordance with Article VII,12
Section 2.1(A) of the Constitution of Louisiana, the Board of Supervisors of13
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, the Board of14
Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, the15
Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, and the Board of16
Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges may impose at an institution17
under its respective management and supervision a one-time increase in tuition and18
mandatory attendance fees if the institution meets both of the following criteria:19
(1) Its approved annual tuition and mandatory fee amount is less than the20
average amount of annual tuition and mandatory fees for Southern Regional21 HLS 13RS-920 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 401
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Education Board peer institutions. The average amount shall be based on the most1
recent Southern Regional Education Board publication of tuition and mandatory fees2
for all institutions in the institution's Southern Regional Education Board3
institutional category.4
(2) Its graduation and freshman retention rates are at least equal to the5
average graduation and freshman retention rates for the same peer institutions.6
B. The increase in tuition and mandatory fees authorized by this Section:7
(1) Shall not be imposed prior to the Fall 2016 semester.8
(2) Shall be limited to an amount that raises the institution's tuition and9
mandatory fees to, but does not exceed, the average amount of annual tuition and10
mandatory fees for Southern Regional Education Board peer institutions.11
(3) May remain in effect after it is imposed but shall not thereafter be12
increased.13
C. Prior to imposing the increase in tuition and fee amounts authorized by14
this Section, each public postsecondary education management board shall establish15
criteria for waiving the amounts in cases of financial hardship as determined by the16
board. Information relative to such waivers and the criteria and procedures for17
obtaining a waiver shall be reported to the Board of Regents and shall be made18
available to all prospective students in a timely manner such that each student is19
informed of the availability of a waiver prior to the student making a final decision20
concerning attendance.21
C. The authority to impose the tuition and mandatory fee increase provided22
in this Section shall include the authority to impose proportional amounts for23
part-time students, for intersessions, and for summer sessions.24
D. For purposes of this Section, "Southern Regional Education Board peer25
institutions" shall mean those institutions as provided by the Southern Regional26
Education Board for each institution's institutional category.27 HLS 13RS-920 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 401
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DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
Carter HB No. 401
Abstract: Authorizes the public postsecondary education management boards to impose
in 2016 or thereafter a one-time tuition and fee increase if an institution meets
graduation and freshman retention rate criteria.
Proposed law authorizes each public postsecondary education management board to impose
at an institution under its respective management and supervision a one-time increase in
tuition and mandatory attendance fees if an institution meets both of the following criteria:
(1)Its approved annual tuition and mandatory fee amount is less than the average
amount of annual tuition and mandatory fees for Southern Regional Education Board
(SREB) peer institutions; provides that the average amount shall be based on the
most recent SREB publication of tuition and mandatory fees for all institutions in the
institution's institutional category.
(2)Its graduation and freshman retention rates are at least equal to the average
graduation and freshman retention rates for the same peer institutions.
Proposed law:
(1)Prohibits imposition prior to Fall 2016.
(2)Limits the increase to an amount which raises the institution's tuition and mandatory
fees to, but does not exceed, the average amount of annual tuition and mandatory
fees for SREB peer institutions.
(3)Authorizes the increase to remain in effect but prohibits subsequent increases.
(4)Provides that the authority to impose the increase is in addition to GRAD Act
authority and any other authority to impose tuition or fees.
(5)Authorizes boards to impose proportional amounts for part-time students,
intersessions, and summer sessions and requires boards to establish criteria for
hardship waivers and to report information relative to such waivers to the Board of
Regents and make it available to prospective students.
(6)Defines "SREB peer institutions" as those institutions as provided by the SREB for
each institution's institutional category.
(7)Provides that it is in accordance with present constitution, which provides that any
new fee imposed or assessed by a state board or agency must be enacted by law by
a 2/3 vote of the elected members of each house of the legislature.
(Adds R.S. 17:3351.17) HLS 13RS-920 ENGROSSED
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Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original
bill.
1. Specifies that it is an institution's freshman retention rates that determine the
institution's authority to impose a tuition and fee increase.