HLS 16RS-603 ENGROSSED
2016 Regular Session
HOUSE BILL NO. 439
BY REPRESENTATIVE IVEY
STUDENT/TUITION: Authorizes public postsecondary education management boards to
increase tuition and provides for limitations and exceptions
1 AN ACT
2To enact R.S. 17:3351.21, relative to tuition at public postsecondary education institutions;
3 to authorize the public postsecondary education management boards to increase
4 tuition at their respective institutions; to provide limitations; to provide exceptions;
5 and to provide for related matters.
6Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana:
7 Section 1. R.S. 17:3351.21 is hereby enacted to read as follows:
8 §3351.21. Tuition increases at public postsecondary education institutions;
9 limitations; exceptions
10 A. In addition to the authority granted by any other provision of law,
11 including but not limited to R.S. 17:3139.5, 3351.7, 3351.8, and 3351.20, and in
12 accordance with Article VII, Section 2.1 of the Constitution of Louisiana, the Board
13 of Supervisors of Louisiana State University and Agricultural and Mechanical
14 College, the Board of Supervisors of Southern University and Agricultural and
15 Mechanical College, the Board of Supervisors for the University of Louisiana
16 System, and the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges may
17 increase tuition to be charged to students at each institution under their respective
18 management and supervision by an amount of not more than ten percent in any one
19 year and not more than twenty percent in any four-year period.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-603 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 439
1 B. The authority granted by Subsection A of this Section includes the
2 authority to impose proportional amounts for part-time students and for summer
3 sessions.
4 C. Each board shall establish criteria for waiving the tuition authorized in
5 Subsection A of this Section in cases of financial hardship as determined by the
6 board. Information relative to such waivers and the criteria and procedures for
7 obtaining a waiver shall be made available to all prospective students in a timely
8 manner such that each student is informed of the availability of a waiver prior to the
9 student making a final decision concerning attendance.
10 D. No student receiving a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students award
11 pursuant to Chapter 50 of this Title shall be required to pay any tuition increase
12 authorized by this Section for any semester or term for which he receives such an
13 award.
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.
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions. HLS 16RS-603 ENGROSSED
HB NO. 439
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, §2.1(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)
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CODING: Words in struck through type are deletions from existing law; words underscored
are additions.