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 439 Engrossed 2016 Regular Session Ivey
Abstract: Authorizes the public postsecondary education management boards to increase tuition
for the next four academic years; excepts Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)
award recipients; caps annual and cumulative increases.
Present law grants the public postsecondary education management boards various authorities
relative to tuition and fees, including the authority to establish fees and adjust fee amounts; provides
that this authority applies for the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 academic years only and that the
authority to increase fees pursuant thereto terminates on June 30, 2017.
Proposed law authorizes each management board to increase tuition by an amount of not more than
10% in any one year and not more than 20% cumulatively in a four-year period and further provides
as follows:
(1)Provides that proposed law authority includes the authority to impose proportional amounts
for part-time students and for summer sessions.
(2)Requires each board to establish criteria for waiving the tuition and fees authorized in
proposed law in cases of financial hardship.
(3)Prohibits requiring any recipient of a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS)
award to pay any tuition increase authorized by proposed law for any semester or term for
which he receives such an award.
Proposed law provides that it is:
(1)In addition to all present law authorities granted to the management boards relative to tuition
and fees.
(2) In accordance with present constitution (Art. VII, ยง2.1(A)), which provides that any new fee
imposed or assessed by a state board or agency must be enacted by law by a 2/3 vote of the
elected members of each house of the legislature.
(Adds R.S. 17:3351.21)