HLS 15RS-275 ORIGINAL
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 168
BY REPRESENTATIVE CARTER
STUDENT/TUITION: Provides relative to tuition and fees for postbaccalaureate programs
at public colleges and universities
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 17:3351.20, relative to tuition and fees for graduate, professional, and other
3 postbaccalaureate programs at public higher education institutions; to authorize the
4 higher education management boards to modify tuition, fees, and fee amounts
5 charged for such programs; and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:3351.20 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 ยง3351.20. Modification of tuition and fees for postbaccalaureate programs
9 A. In addition to any other provision of law authorizing tuition and fee
10 amounts for postsecondary education programs and in accordance with Article VII,
11 Section 2.1 of the Constitution of Louisiana, the Board of Supervisors of Louisiana
12 State University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, the Board of Supervisors
13 of Southern University and Agricultural and Mechanical College, and the Board of
14 Supervisors for the University of Louisiana System may modify, whenever and
15 however they deem necessary, the tuition, fees, and fee amounts to be charged to
16 students enrolled in any graduate, professional, or other postbaccalaureate program
17 at each institution under their respective management and supervision.
18 B.(1) The authority granted by Subsection A of this Section includes the
19 authority to impose proportional amounts for part-time students and for summer
20 sessions.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-275 ORIGINAL
HB NO. 168
1 (2) The authority granted by Subsection A of this Section is not subject to
2 any restriction on the authority to set tuition and fee amounts provided for in R.S.
3 17:3139 et seq.
4 C. Each board shall establish criteria for waiving the tuition and fees
5 authorized in Subsection A of this Section in cases of financial hardship or
6 extraordinary merit as determined by the board. Information relative to such waivers
7 and the criteria and procedures for obtaining a waiver shall be made available to all
8 prospective students in a timely manner such that each student is informed of the
9 availability of a waiver prior to the student making a final decision concerning
10 attendance.
11 Section 2. This Act shall become effective upon signature by the governor or, if not
12signed by the governor, upon expiration of the time for bills to become law without signature
13by the governor, as provided in Article III, Section 18 of the Constitution of Louisiana. If
14vetoed by the governor and subsequently approved by the legislature, this Act shall become
15effective on the day following such approval.
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 168 Original 2015 Regular Session Carter
Abstract: Authorizes the higher education management boards to establish and modify, as
they deem necessary, tuition and fees charged for graduate, professional, and other
postbaccalaureate programs.
Proposed law authorizes the management boards of public higher education to modify
tuition, fees, and fee amounts for graduate programs at institutions under their respective
management and supervision. Further authorizes the boards to establish proportional
amounts for part-time students and summer sessions. Provides relative to waivers of tuition
and fees authorized by proposed law in cases of financial hardship or extraordinary merit.
Present law, the GRAD Act, authorizes specific tuition and fee increases at public
postsecondary education institutions contingent on those institutions meeting performance
goals established by agreement with the Board of Regents. Proposed law provides that the
authority to modify tuition and fees authorized by proposed law is not subject to such
contingencies.
Effective upon signature of governor or lapse of time for gubernatorial action.
(Adds R.S. 17:3351.20)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.