HLS 14RS-284 ORIGINAL
Page 1 of 3
Regular Session, 2014
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON NO. 21
BY REPRESENTATIVE DIXON
STUDENT/TUITION: Requests that the Board of Regents study the feasibility of
implementing a college tuition program that would allow students to pay tuition after
leaving college
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTI ON1
To urge and request the Board of Regents, in consultation with the Board of Supervisors of2
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, the Board of3
Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, the Board of Supervisors of4
Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the Board of5
Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges, to study the feasibility of6
implementing a college tuition program that would allow students to pay tuition after7
leaving college and to submit a written report of findings and conclusions, including8
any recommendations for legislation relative to the issue, to the House Committee9
on Education and the Senate Committee on Education not later than sixty days prior10
to the beginning of the 2015 Regular Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.11
WHEREAS, good jobs increasingly require workers with postsecondary education,12
and the nation's economic growth depends on developing a workforce ready for 21st century13
jobs in the global economy; and14
WHEREAS, long-term declines in state higher education funding and more recent15
severe budget cuts are pushing college out of reach for middle class and low-income16
students; and17
WHEREAS, "Pay It Forward", a proposal from the Economic Opportunity Institute,18
provides a potential remedy to this problem; and19
WHEREAS, under the "Pay It Forward" plan, students attend college with no upfront20
tuition and fees, and instead contribute a small, fixed-percentage of their income after21
college; and 22 HLS 14RS-284 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 21
Page 2 of 3
WHEREAS, under the plan, contributions are placed in a public higher education1
trust fund that funds education for the next generation of students, giving each new cohort2
the same opportunity to attend college; and 3
WHEREAS, over time, the trust fund becomes entirely self-replenishing and allows4
for more and more students to participate in the plan, and by linking contributions to5
students' incomes, the plan allows graduates to choose work based on their interests and6
skills, rather than solely on the prospect of higher incomes; and7
WHEREAS, "Pay It Forward" can be implemented in conjunction with other forms8
of federal, state, local, and private financial aid; and9
WHEREAS, several states are exploring "Pay It Forward" programs, including10
Oregon, where lawmakers recently voted to create a commission to study the plan in detail.11
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby12
urge and request the Board of Regents, in consultation with the Board of Supervisors of13
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, the Board of14
Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System, the Board of Supervisors of Southern15
University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the Board of Supervisors of16
Louisiana Community and Technical Colleges, to study the feasibility of implementing a17
college tuition program that would allow students to pay tuition after leaving college and to18
submit a written report of findings and conclusions, including any recommendations for19
legislation relative to the issue, to the House Committee on Education and the Senate20
Committee on Education not later than sixty days prior to the beginning of the 2015 Regular21
Session of the Legislature of Louisiana.22
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a suitable copy of this Resolution be transmitted23
to the commissioner of higher education and the presidents of Louisiana State University,24
University of Louisiana, Southern University, and the Louisiana Community and Technical25
College systems.26 HLS 14RS-284 ORIGINAL
HCR NO. 21
Page 3 of 3
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)]
Dixon HCR No. 21
Requests that the Board of Regents study, in consultation with the Board of Supervisors of
Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, the University of
Louisiana System, Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the
Community and Technical College system, the feasibility of implementing a college tuition
program that would allow students to pay tuition after leaving college and submit a written
report of findings, conclusions, and recommendations to the House and Senate education
committees at least 60 days prior to the 2015 R.S.