HLS 15RS-1283 ENGROSSED
2015 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 411
BY REPRESENTATIVE JAMES
Prefiled pursuant to Article III, Section 2(A)(4)(b)(i) of the Constitution of Louisiana.
COLLEGES/ADMISSIONS: (Constitutional Amendment) Provides relative to the
authority to set admission standards at public postsecondary education institutions
1 A JOINT RESOLUTION
2Proposing to amend Article VIII, Section 5(D)(4) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to
3 provide relative to the authority to set admission standards at public postsecondary
4 education institutions; to provide for submission of the proposed amendment to the
5 electors; and to provide for related matters.
6 Section 1. Be it resolved by the Legislature of Louisiana, two-thirds of the members
7elected to each house concurring, that there shall be submitted to the electors of the state of
8Louisiana, for their approval or rejection in the manner provided by law, a proposal to
9amend Article VIII, Section 5(D)(4) of the Constitution of Louisiana, to read as follows:
10 §5. Board of Regents
11 Section 5.
12 * * *
13 (D) Powers. The Board of Regents shall meet with the State Board of
14 Elementary and Secondary Education at least twice a year to coordinate programs
15 of public elementary, secondary, vocational-technical, career, and higher education.
16 The Board of Regents shall have the following powers, duties, and responsibilities
17 relating to public institutions of postsecondary education:
18 * * *
19 (4) To formulate and make timely revision of a master plan for
20 postsecondary education. As a minimum, the plan shall include a formula for
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-1283 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 411
1 equitable distribution of funds to the institutions of postsecondary education.
2 However, the master plan shall not require and the formula shall not make the
3 distribution of funds contingent on use of specific student admission standards. The
4 authority to set admission standards for an institution is specifically a power of
5 management as provided for in Paragraph (E) of this Section.
6 * * *
7 Section 2. Be it further resolved that this proposed amendment shall be submitted
8to the electors of the state of Louisiana at the statewide election to be held on October 24,
92015.
10 Section 3. Be it further resolved that on the official ballot to be used at the election,
11there shall be printed a proposition, upon which the electors of the state shall be permitted
12to vote YES or NO, to amend the Constitution of Louisiana, which proposition shall read as
13follows:
14 Do you support an amendment to provide that the higher education
15 management boards, rather than the Board of Regents, have control over
16 student admission standards at public colleges and universities? (Amends
17 Article VIII, Section 5(D)(4))
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 411 Engrossed 2015 Regular Session James
Abstract: Provides that the postsecondary education management boards, rather than the
Bd. of Regents, control student admission standards at public colleges and
universities.
Present constitution creates the Bd. of Regents to plan, coordinate, and have budgetary
responsibility for all public postsecondary education. Specifically requires the board to
formulate a master plan which is to include a formula for equitable distribution of funds to
colleges and universities. Proposed constitutional amendments provides that the master plan
shall not require nor shall the formula make the distribution of funds contingent on use of
specific student admission standards.
Present constitution provides that powers of management over public colleges and
universities not specifically vested in the Bd. of Regents are reserved to the management
boards. Proposed constitutional amendment provides that the authority to set admission
standards is a power reserved to the management boards.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 15RS-1283 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 411
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held October 24, 2015.
(Amends Const. Art. VIII, §5(D)(4))
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.