GREEN SHEET REDIGEST
HB 61 2015 Regular Session Carmody
(KEYWORD, SUMMARY, AND DIGEST as amended by Senate committee
amendments)
STUDENT/TUITION: (Constitutional Amendment) Exempts public postsecondary
education tuition and fees from requirements for imposing a new or increasing an
existing fee and provides relative to the authority to set tuition and fees.
DIGEST
Abstract: Removes tuition and fees charged by institutions of postsecondary education
from constitutional provisions requiring a two-thirds vote of the legislature and from
managerial authority of the various postsecondary education management boards.
Present constitution requires that all new fees or increases of existing fees imposed by the
state or any board, department, or agency of the state be enacted by a two-thirds vote of the
legislature. This provision of present constitution applies to tuition and fees charged to
students attending public institutions of postsecondary education. Proposed constitutional
amendment exempts new or increased tuition and fees charged to students attending public
institutions of postsecondary education from the two-thirds voting requirement of the
legislature.
Present constitution provides for the management of public institutions of postsecondary
education by various entities, namely the LSU Board of Supervisors, the Southern University
Board of Supervisors, the Board of Trustees for State Colleges and Universities, and the
Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges. Proposed constitutional
amendment retains the general authority of these management boards but specifically
excludes from their constitutional authority the ability to establish or raise tuition and fees
and, instead, provides that such authority is as provided in law.
Provides for submission of the proposed amendment to the voters at the statewide election
to be held Oct. 24, 2015, provided Senate Bill No. 48 of this 2015 Regular Session is enacted
and becomes effective. If ratified by the electors, the provisions of the amendments become
effective on Jan. 1, 2016.
(Amends Const. Art. VIII, §5(E); Adds Const. Art. VII, §2.1(C))
Summary of Amendments Adopted by House
The Committee Amendments Proposed by House Committee on Civil Law and
Procedure to the engrossed bill:
1. Make technical amendments.
2. Change the proposed ballot language.
Summary of Amendments Adopted by Senate
Committee Amendments Proposed by Senate Committee on Education to the re-
reengrossed bill
1. Specifies that the proposed amendment will be submitted to the voters if Senate
Bill No. 48 of this 2015 Regular Session is enacted and becomes effective.
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Prepared by Jeanne Johnston.