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)]
HB 152 Reengrossed 2015 Regular Session Broadwater
Abstract: Authorizes the public postsecondary education management boards to establish and
adjust fees charged to students.
Proposed law provides that the legislature authorizes the public postsecondary education
management boards to establish fees and adjust fee amounts at institutions under their respective
management and supervision. Provides that such authority shall apply for the 2015-16 and 2016-17
academic years only and that the authority to increase fees pursuant thereto shall terminate on June
30, 2017. Provides that such authority specifically includes authority to impose per credit fees and
differential fees for certain programs and to charge proportional amounts for part-time students and
summer sessions. Provides that except for the LSU Health Sciences Centers, the pharmacy program
at the University of La. at Monroe, and the Southern University Law Center, the revenue per full
time equivalent student from all tuition and fee amounts charged to a student plus the revenue per
full time equivalent student from state and local appropriations shall not exceed the national average
of total per full time equivalent student revenue from state appropriations, local appropriations,
tuition, and fees as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) by Carnegie
classification, which maximum amount may be annually adjusted based on the most recent full time
equivalent funding statistics as reported by the NCES and adjusted to the current fiscal year using
the Higher Education Price Index (HEPI). Provides that the total of all tuition and fee amounts
charged to a student enrolled in the LSU Health Sciences Centers, the pharmacy program at the
University of La. at Monroe, and the Southern University Law Center shall not exceed the tuition
and fees charged, as reported by the NCES, of national peers selected by the institution, which
maximum amount may be annually adjusted based on the most recent tuition and fee amounts per
full time equivalent student as reported by the NCES and adjusted to the current fiscal year using the
HEPI.
Present law (R.S. 17:3139 et seq. - the GRAD Act), authorizes specific tuition and fee increases at
public postsecondary education institutions contingent on whether those institutions meet
performance goals established by agreement with the Bd. of Regents. Proposed law provides that
the authority to establish and adjust fees as authorized by proposed law is not subject to such
contingencies.
Proposed law requires each institution to allocate not less than 5% of revenues realized pursuant to
proposed law to provide need-based financial assistance to students who are eligible to receive a Pell
Grant.
Proposed law prohibits revenues generated by fees imposed pursuant to proposed law from being used for any other purpose except for support of the university at which the fees were collected.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:3351.20)
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Education to the original bill:
1. Limit total tuition and fee amounts based on certain national per full time equivalent
student averages and amounts as reported by the National Center for Education Statistics.
The House Floor Amendments to the engrossed bill:
1. Limit proposed law authority to establish fees to the 2015-16 and 2016-17 academic
years and provide that proposed law authority to increase fees shall terminate on June 30,
2017.
2. Add that revenues generated by fees imposed pursuant to proposed law may not be used
for any other purpose except for support of the university at which they were collected.
3. Add the pharmacy program at the University of La. at Monroe to the list of institutions
that also includes the LSU Health Sciences Centers and the Southern University Law
Center for purposes of calculating the "cap" of total tuition and fee amounts.
4. Clarify how the "cap" of total tuition and fee amounts is calculated for national
comparison purposes.