HLS 14RS-1429 ORIGINAL
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Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE BILL NO. 943
BY REPRESENTATIVE RICHARD
COLLEGES/UNIVERSITIES: Provides for additional tuition charges on a per-hour basis
AN ACT1
To enact R.S. 17:3351.20, relative to tuition charges at certain public postsecondary2
education institutions; to authorize the boards of supervisors of the Louisiana State3
University System, the Southern University System, and the University of Louisiana4
System to establish and impose an additional tuition charge on a credit-hour basis for5
students attending the institutions under the management and supervision of the6
respective board and to provide relative to such charges; to provide that such7
additional tuition charges shall not be included in or paid by any Louisiana Taylor8
Opportunity Program for Students award; to provide for waivers from such charges;9
to provide for effectiveness; and to provide for related matters.10
Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:11
Section 1. R.S. 17:3351.20 is hereby enacted to read as follows:12
§3351.20. Certain management boards; additional tuition charges per credit hour13
A. In accordance with Article VII, Section 2.1(A) of the Constitution of14
Louisiana and in addition to any other authority of the board of supervisors of the15
Louisiana State University System, the Southern University System, or the16
University of Louisiana System to impose tuition or fees, each such board may17
establish an additional tuition charge per credit hour in which a student is enrolled18
in excess of twelve credit hours in a semester or in excess of eight credit hours in a19
quarter. The additional tuition charge shall not exceed one-twelfth of the tuition20 HLS 14RS-1429 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 943
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charge for twelve credit hours per semester or one-eighth of the tuition charge for1
eight credit hours per quarter, as the case may be.2
B. Any additional tuition charge imposed pursuant to this Section shall not3
be included in the determination of the amount to be paid on behalf of a student4
pursuant to an award under the Louisiana Taylor Opportunity Program for Students,5
and no such additional tuition charge shall be paid as part of such an award.6
C. Prior to imposing any additional tuition charge pursuant to the provisions7
of this Section, the management board shall establish criteria for waivers of such8
additional tuition charges in cases of financial hardship. Information about such9
waivers and the criteria and procedures for obtaining a waiver shall be made10
available to all prospective and continuing students affected by the additional11
charges in a timely manner such that the students are aware of the charges and the12
availability of waivers prior to their making a final decision concerning attendance13
or continued attendance at the college or university.14
Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not15
signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature16
by the governor, as provided by Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If17
vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become18
effective on the day following such approval.19
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)]
Richard HB No. 943
Abstract: Authorizes the boards of supervisors of the LSU System, the Southern University
System, and the University of La. System to impose additional per credit-hour tuition
charges on students enrolled in more than 12 credit hours per semester or eight credit
hours per quarter. Excludes such additional tuition charges from TOPS award
payments. Provides for limitations and waivers.
Proposed law authorizes the boards of supervisors of the LSU System, the Southern
University System, and the University of La. System to establish an additional tuition charge
per credit-hour in which a student is enrolled in excess of 12 credit-hours in a semester or
in excess of eight credit hours in a quarter. Limits such per credit-hour charge to 1/12 of the HLS 14RS-1429 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 943
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tuition charge for 12 credit hours per semester or 1/8 of the tuition charge for eight credit
hours per quarter, as the case may be.
Present law (R.S. 17:3048.1 et seq.) establishes the La. Taylor Opportunity Program for
Students or TOPS which provides for certain awards to full-time students who meet certain
qualifications and who are enrolled in public colleges and universities (or certain other
institutions) and for payment on their behalf of amounts determined by the administering
agency to equal the actual cost of tuition. (Certain awards also include other monetary
amounts.)
Proposed law specifies that any additional tuition charge imposed pursuant to proposed law
shall not be included in determining the amount to be paid on behalf of a student pursuant
to a TOPS award and prohibits payment of any such additional charge as part of a TOPS
award.
Proposed law requires that the boards, prior to imposing the additional tuition charge,
establish criteria for waivers of such additional tuition charges in cases of financial hardship.
Further requires that information about such waivers and the criteria and procedures for
obtaining a waiver shall be made available to all affected prospective and continuing
students in a timely manner such that the students are aware of the charges and the
availability of waivers prior to making a final decision concerning attendance or continued
attendance at the college or university.
Proposed law is in addition to any other authority of any of the boards to impose tuition or
fees.
Proposed law provides that it is in accordance with Const. Art. VII, §2.1(A) 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.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:3351.20)