GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 152 2015 Regular Session Broadwater
(KEYWORD, SUMMARY, AND DIGEST as amended by Senate committee
amendments)
STUDENT/TUITION. Provides relative to mandatory fees charged to students at
public postsecondary education institutions
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.
Proposed law authorizes the imposition of a fee for the administration of any student surveys
required or authorized by law.
Proposed law requires each board to submit a written report to the Senate and House
Committees on Education not later than February 15, 2016, and February 15, 2017, regarding
how the fees authorized were implemented at each institution under its supervision and
management, including an overview of the distribution of the monies in the need-based
financial assistance fund.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:3351.20)
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Prepared by Riley Boudreaux. 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.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the
reengrossed bill
1. Authorizes the imposition of a fee for the administration of any student surveys
required or authorized by law.
2. Technical amendments.
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs
to the reengrossed bill
1. Requires each board to submit a written report to the Education committees
regarding how the fees authorized were implemented, including distribution.
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Prepared by Riley Boudreaux.